Hello Beautiful

Want.

ciaobellezza — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:22:04 +0000

I was going to post a “Hair Files” on my fave Bumble & Bumble products but I’m beat. So here’s a photo of a dresser that I want instead:

It doesn’t coordinate with any of the other furniture that I own but I still think it’s really darling.

Months later…..

ciaobellezza — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:05:49 +0000

I have finally moved! I’m two weeks in to this new apartment, and while it’s not my ideal (new neighbor’s moved in right across the way and THEY have hardwood floors-dark, too! Ugh! Jealous) it fits the bill. After months of looking and not wanting to settle, I settled. One of my many aunts was a gracious host and let me stay with them until I found a place. I searched, and searched, and searched. Nothing was quite right. I finally ended up having to make a quick decision as my cousin’s boyfriend broke up with her and she needed her old room back, pronto. I spent a week weighing in between a downtown apartment that had neither parking or laundry on site or a larger, more expensive apartment further away that had parking but no laundry. My dear cousin moved in the very day I moved out. Now that she and her on/off/on/off BF are on again, I hope she stays put at her parents because moving your entire life is really the pits.

Back on topic, I went with the latterapartment because what really got me was the closet space. Oh, the glorious closet space! I have two large closets in my room (one for accessories and shoes, the other for clothes), a walk in closet in the hall, a lovely linen closet in the dressing area, and a huge storage space on the terrace (I would call it a “patio” but they’re fancy here and call them terraces). I have been unpacking boxes, merrily arranging things on shelves, in organizers, and hoping that I can find a place next year with as much storage as I have now. When the rent goes up in a year, I will have to move again as it’s already slightly quite over my budget.

Thanks to all of my closet organization, hopefully I can edit some of my things so when next November rolls around, moving won’t be so much of a pain. I am very thankful to have several strong and well organized uncle who work together fabulously. They had my entire storage unit packed into a U-Haul and two SUV’s within a half hour.

I am quite enjoying peace, quiet, and all of my closet space to my self.

_____________________________________________________________

I do plan on updating more frequently. From November of last year until this recent past November, a number of life changing, stressful, and traumatic events have dramatically changed my life, including the passing of my beloved grandpa on Easter from a horrendous battle with lung cancer, one which with I dealt with and witnessed up close and personal from the time we found out until his very last breath. Let me tell you, I had no idea what someone dealing with cancer, or their families, go through. It is a horrifying, devastating, mentally and physically exhausting, emotionally taxing experience, especially as it starts to spread. It is something that I would never wish upon anyone to go through.

I’ve had no time or will to really write, and anything I felt the need to write was more private journal-esque than public beauty blog worthy because very rarely do I post about my private life. I have helped my family settle into their new lives, homes, and routines and now that I know they are going to be okay, I can finally rest and take care of myself.

CGMag

ciaobellezza — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:46:43 +0000

Some work from a few years ago:

The eyeshadow in the last photo is MAC Teal pigment over Makeup Forever Green Liner

Complexion in all photos is Makeup Forever and Nars

Model: Eren

Photographer & editing: Kara

Makeup: Moi and Vanessa [our well-deserved photo credit went to the company we worked for, although we're credited elsewhere.]

The Hair Files

ciaobellezza — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:34:57 +0000

As of late I love hair products. I will try just about anything that’s repairing, hydrating, smoothing, shine boosting, protective, or restorative. My hair is super long because I’ve been growing it out and it’s also color treated. And, of course, I heat style about four or five days a week. I’ve found many successes and many failures. I’ve also had many lost loves that have been harder to find or discontinued.

This is the first installment of the “Hair Files,” where I tell you what worked for my hair type or style I’m creating, why I loved or didn’t love it, and if I’ve found a cheaper duplicate for a more expensive product.

I wanted to start the first Hair Files off with some dud’s because I like getting the messy stuff out of the way first. So, here are my least faves of 2011, thus far:

Top:

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner: I loved how the Coconut smelled. It was light and fresh, and the conditioner detangled my hair very well. However, my hair did not feel soft afterwards.

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner: My hair was left detangled and it also felt dry and coarse. Weird for a product that is supposed to smooth.

All in all, neither product from this brand was great and I’m glad I got them buy one get one free at Rite Aid and didn’t spend a lot on these. I have used other Organix treatments with great success (Coconut Split End Mender and Brazilian Keratin Anti-Breakage Serum) and I suppose the shampoos and conditioners are not a right fit for my hair.

Bottom:

Living Proof Humidity Blocking Flexible Hold Hair Spray: I love that this did not make my hair stiff. It did, however, make my hair feel stringy and sticky.

Living Proof Straight Spray: While I had less static while using this, it did not make my wavy hair any straighter.

Moroccanoil treatment: This oil was OK. It felt nice going on but frankly, there are better options on the market that aren’t as pricey. It is also supposed to reduce hair drying time and it did not. I also seemed to have more breakage while using this, when it’s supposed to counteract breakage.

Phyto Phytokarite mask: It made my hair feel dry, tangled, and something about the smell made me gag. I was told it has a floral scent but to me it smelled like rotten hard-boiled eggs and potpourri.

Soap and Glory at Sephora

ciaobellezza — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:20:08 +0000

Wait, wait, what? Yes, Soap and Glory is now being sold at Sephora, at least online for now. No word when it will hit stores but it’s back! I know when the line left Target there was a big uproar and U.S. ladies (and gents) were buying hoardes of their fave products as they were worried the line was going away forever, at least in the states.

Sephora makes perfect sense to sell the line as Bliss (from S&G’s founder) is sold there.

Check it out: Soap and Glory on Sephora.com

Shoes and moving

ciaobellezza — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:04:35 +0000

I have been out and about apartment hunting, which means tons of walking. Why keep trying to find parking when many of my options are so close? It was during a six block walk around the corner from apartment A to apartment B that I realized my current flats were no longer comfy. I’ve been scrimping and saving for the move and felt a little guilty about even thinking of buying shoes but they were much needed and will be well used. Plus, they were buy one get one free!

I’m also having dilemma’s of which neighborhood I’m going to settle in. I’m definitely not looking in my current area. It’s taken a turn for the worse within the past years and many real estate agents would describe it as “up and coming” which in real estate lingo really means, “Oh, it’s not the best neighborhood but it’s being revitalized. Just don’t go out alone at night and you won’t get mugged or shot.”

My target neighborhood is cute and I can walk almost everywhere. At the same time, I can get more for my money a little farther out. I have two weeks to find a place before all of my fab shoes and beauty products go into storage while I take up temporary residence at my aunts until I find what I’m looking for. Without over staying my welcome, of course.

And let me tell you, it’s hard to find an apartment with washer dryer hook-ups within my price range. In an ideal world, I’d find a super cute 1-2 bedroom with hook ups so I don’t have to fiddle with quarters, laundry rooms, or worse, have to haul all of my clothes to a laundromat. Those apartments have been very few and far between, regardless of the area. I know that in the end I’m not going to find exactly what I want and I don’t have much time left but you can’t blame a girl for hoping.

Summer bridal makeup

ciaobellezza — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:39:14 +0000

This bride wanted a smokey eye, natural lip, and bronze complexion. We were planning on creating a bronze eye and at the last minute she decided to go for the gusto and change to a smokey eye. We also lightly airbrushed her decollete (and set with powder and fix spray) to blend in a spray tan she had gotten a few days before. Complexion is Temptu, brows are Makeup Forever, eyeshadow is Smashbox and Stila, lips are MAC.

Uh….what? DIY headboard!

ciaobellezza — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:52:01 +0000

So I purchased this headboard from West Elm last year. I had been stalking it forever and it finally went on sale- I thought I’d gotten a bargain!

She made hers: http://ana-white.com/2010/10/squared2-headboard-queen

I’m not the best at putting things together but I do have some handy Uncles that could have helped me make this. Lesson learned: next time scour the internet to see if you can find ways to make things instead of buy.

Creed Aventus (For Men)

ciaobellezza — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 05:47:11 +0000

So this might make me sound like a bit of a creeper but I was recently working with a fellow makeup artist and I could not stop admiring his cologne. I get to sniff everything from the latest and greatest to the tried and true classics and I have never sniffed anything like what he was wearing. So naturally I had to ask what his fragrance of the day was, and it was Adventus by Creed. It was soft enough that you had to be within an arms length to smell it and bold enough to make me do a double take, er, sniff. Not many fragrances make me have such a strong reaction that I absolutely must know what it is this very instant. It’s very sexy and masculine. Worth a try if you have some extra $ to spend and need a new fragrance.

The notes are: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and a burst of royal pineapple; Exquisite roses with a complement of dry birch, Moroccan jasmine plus a hint of patchouli; Musk with a touch of oak moss for depth, then ambergris and a dab of vanilla.

Also, this gentleman who seems to have an extensive fragrance collection himself gives it an excellent review (and I agree with everything he says): click here for youtube review. This guy also has great taste in fragrance (hello, Hermes Amber Narguile).

Favorites of 2010

ciaobellezza — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:10:26 +0000

1. Hot pink lips: Bold, effortless, chic. This was the lip look I rocked the most this year, with a natural eye, of course. Faves of the year included Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in Mr. Lover, Benefit Posie Tint Stain (3-5 layers for intensity) layered with Smashbox O-Gloss Original (always turns my lips bright hot pink), and MAC Lipstick in Girl About Town.

2. Lashes: It’s rare for me to wear faux lashes even though I love them so (my eyes freak out if I wear them too often) and when I have a full fringe, I always feel super glam. My faves are still Ardell because the quality surpasses the price (around $4). The #120 demi are my absolute faves and I also like #113 and #122. My lash glue of choice is always Duo waterproof clear lash glue unless…I can get my hands on the Makeup Forever lash glue that comes with their lashes. I hoard this whenever I buy Makeup Forever lashes because it is absolutely the best I’ve tried.

3. The love of my life (well, purse-wise at least) is my Lux De Ville Lucky Me bag in black and leopard. I love it because it’s roomy and super cute. It isn’t, however, great for rainy weather, so I’m currently using their Starlite Kisslock bag in red sparkle, which doesn’t hold as much but makes me happy because it reminds me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers, just in purse form instead of shoes.

4. Headbands! Love! It takes a drab hairstyle to fab on mornings when I’d rather sleep than make an effort with my hair. I just brush, slick into a pony, pop on a headband and I look like I tried.

5. Josie Maran GOGO instant volume mascara: I always admit that mascara is not my thing, so when I do end up loving one, it’s the real deal. The brush is almost a triangular shape and it gives my lash a flirty flutter without clumps. Thanks, Josie. P.S. I also kind of love everything from this line, so maybe I’m biased? It really is a super fab line that I highly recommend.

6. Zirh Shave Gel: See a few posts back. Amazing!

7 & 8: Perricone Super: I’m sooo loving the Lush Lips and Hyper Hydrator, both with coconut water. Coconut water is great for the skin (I would like to say that I drink it regularly, but I only drink it a few times a month) and the smell is light. The lip treatment is ultra hydrating, silky, and is indeed very lush. The moisturizer is light and helps keep my oily skin in check. The line is also a bit more wallet friendly than Perricone’s core line, which I also love and can’t always afford.

9. Perricone Advanced Firming Eye Activator: Anti-aging! Brightening! Tightening! I love this eye cream bunches and always buy it when it’s within my budget. I’ve been a devotee of this product since 2006.

10 And as always….Bliss Best of Skintentions moisturizer is still tops in my skincare regime. I love the way it makes my skin look and feel. If I need an instant pick-me-up, this does it. I also love the built-in SPF (with the Japanese skincare rating of PA++).