Cranberry Craze

When we think of colder weather, the first thing that comes to mind is darkness. Everything seems to get darker. Eyeshadow, lipstick, hair, the sky, but that doesn't mean we have to forget about color! Don't get us wrong, we love our black clothing and dark smokey eyes, but sometimes we want to change it up a bit. The ever so popular cranberry (not sauce) is a great way to change up your look without straying away from the darkness. There are many different ways to incorporate this color in your fall look, whether it be scarves, nail polish, sweaters, etc. We decided to focus on how to pull this color into your makeup!

Kendall's Look:

You can never go wrong with neutral eyes and bold lips, but for this look I decided to add a little twist! Beauty gurus across the nation are raving about this subtle, yet fierce cat eye look that is beautiful with just a pop of color. This technique may not seem to be your cup of tea, but it's fun to try something different every now and then.

For the eyes, I applied a cream, matte shadow from the Two Faced Natural Eyes Palette called Heaven, all over my lid. Then I just blended a matte brown shade called Nudie, from that same palette, all throughout my crease to add dimension and keep it simple, as well. Now here is where the twist comes in! I used Stila's Stay All Day black liquid eye liner and carefully lined my top lashes as well as the shape of my inner tear duct to create that cat eye effect. I finished the eyes by winging the liner on the outer corners and following through the bottom water line. Although it seems as if your eyes were to appear smaller due to the use of liner, this look actually opens the eyes up and makes them appear to be bigger because of the extended eyeliner in the tear duct.

We cannot forget about that bold lip that completely ties this look all together, and that is the cranberry color that everyone is reaching for these days! With such neutral eye shadow, a bold lip is exactly what this needs. I used a matte lipstick in Black Cherry form Revlon and lightly coated that shade all over my lips, topping it off with Gerard Cosmetics' lip gloss in Pouty Princess. This look is perfect for when you are feelin' sassy and want to try something new!

Kristen's Look:

For some, adding color to their eyeshadow can be a scary thought. While it is a fun way to spice up your look, it can be intimidating. With this look, you can add color, but also stay within your comfort zone. I used the Lorac Pro Palette to achieve these cranberry crazed eyes. 

I took a little bit of Taupe through my crease to act as my transition shade and help blend out any sharp lines. For the main star, I used Garnet. This color is a gorgeous deep cranberry red that goes with almost any eye color! I applied this all over my lid right up to my transition color. To avoid looking sick, (since we are using reds) I then took Sable and put that on the outer corner and a little bit up into the crease to add some definition and more smokiness. 

Be sure to blend after every step to ensure you don't have any harsh lines! After I made sure everything was blended the way I wanted, I went back and built up the color until it was the desired darkness. I added Cream to my brow bone for a highlight, and finished off the shadow with Black along my lash line to add definition. I opted out of eyeliner because I wanted to keep the look smokey, but feel free to add any eyeliner you want! Don't forget to add lots of mascara since we don't want our lashes to get lost in the eyeshadow. I added it to the top and bottom to open up my eyes. Pair this look with a nude, or even a bold lip color if you're feeling spicy!

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen

Boutique of the Week: Kismet

Out of all the places we love here at Ohio University, the boutiques found around Court Street seem to be some of our favorites! There are so many retail shops around the Athens area that feature not only men and women's clothing, but accessories, home goods and trinkets within their own unique style. This week we stopped in Kismet to check out the new merchandise they are featuring for this fall season, take a look at what we found!

During the fall I occasionally prefer to wear patterned pants of some sort, to steer away from the plain old jeans and sweater look. I found these thick, navy blue and black, plaid leggings that are a perfect pattern for this season, and paired them with a simple sweater. Kismet had tons of knitwear to choose from for this fall, but this particular sweater caught my eye, because it was extremely soft and light weight, but still gave enough warmth to wear on its own. As you can see, there is a hint of orange in the plaid leggings, so I decided to add an orange statement necklace to bring this look all together. I also decided to pair this outfit with dark brown boots, although black boots would look good as well!

This outfit is a bit similar to the last one, but I could not help but share these awesome pants that Kismet has in stock! I found a pair of red and black, paisley printed jeans that are warm, comfortable and so easy to style. I paired these jeans with a plain black long sleeve shirt and a light, dusty pink fur vest. Fur vests are a huge statement piece during the fall and winter seasons that can dress up an outfit within seconds, and Kismet is definitely the place to go if you are looking for the perfect one. I decided to wear the same dark brown boots with this outfit to keep on the casual side, but if you were to dress up this look, booties or heels would do the trick!

During the fall and winter you can almost always count on me wearing riding boots. Kismet has many different clothing options that can be paired with riding boots for every occasion! They have everything from sweaters, to dresses, and even cool graphic t-shirts that can make a look more casual. These two outfits that I paired with riding boots are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The first outfit is a black casual tunic top with embroidered red and blue detailing.  I paired this shirt with some fleece leggings also found at Kismet, (great for fall and winter, nice and warm!) and some black riding boots. For the second outfit I decided to go a little bit more edgy. I chose a sheer red plaid dress with brown riding boots. The dress is perfect for a fall day or night when you want to look a bit more put together, but don't have a lot of time. It has a built in slip so you don't have to worry about buying one separately. This look could easily be paired with tights or even leggings and booties!

Don't forget, Kismet offers a huge variety of accessories! You can find tank tops and bandeaus, along with many other lingerie options in every color imaginable. We were also very excited to find out that Kismet was selling the very popular and unique Lokai bracelets as well as a variety of beautiful rings, statement necklaces, and earrings. Go on in and check out Kismet's wonderful merchandise and we hope you enjoyed our looks!  

Kismet

16 W. Union Street, Athens  OH 45701

Instagram: @kismetathens

XOXO, 

Kendall & Kristen

Eyes to Kill

Let's be honest... eyes are always the first thing we notice when we look at someone...why not show 'em off? Finding the right shade of eye shadow can be very difficult, and it can be extremely easy to get lost in the sea of countless colors. So naturally, we tend to abandon the idea of making our eye color "pop." As for every eye color out there, we recommend sticking to a monochromatic color palette (different shades of your specific eye color) or a palette consisting of complementary colors (shades opposite of your specific eye color on the color wheel) and you will notice a dramatic change in the appearance of your eye color! We put together four different eye shadow looks (also with the help of our brown & hazel eyed friends) to compliment every eye color. Enjoy!

Blue 

Many women out there struggle to find the right eye shadow to accentuate their baby blues, because we are afraid to apply too much or too little of a shadow, which then seems to distract from the true color of our eyes. Whether your eyes are crystal blue, dark sapphire or grey toned these colors will help you out tremendously. I (Kendall) decided to use a range of complementary colors for this look, which can consist of oranges, coppers, browns and peaches. I ended up choosing a shimmery copper eye shadow called Honey Pot from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette and mixed it with Trick from the Naked 3 Palette and applied that all over my lid and blended it out in my crease with a matte brown shade called Nudie from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette, as well. Because blue eyes are extremely light and fair, you want to stay away from the heavy smokey eye looks in order to keep the focus on your eye color. Instead of using black eyeliner and mascara, I chose to use a dark brown shade, which is also better for those of you who have blonde hair and a light complexion like me! Don't forget that colors such as white, grey, silver and blue will do the job as well!

Brown 

Stating the obvious here... we (Kristen & Kendall) don't have brown eyes, so we were forced to phone a friend on this one. Our homegirl Maggie Etherington was kind enough to volunteer not only her beautiful eyes, but also some of the tips she uses to make her eyes stand out. Brown eyes are a blessing because they are so neutral that they literally look good with any eyeshadow color! Maggie likes to use more neutral golds, and light beiges for an everyday basis. These colors really help to bring out the golden-brown in her eyes. When she is feelin' spicy she likes to darken her outer corners with deep chocolate browns. To draw attention and make her eyes stand out, she adds a light shimmery color in the inner tear duct. The colors that Maggie gravitates towards can be found in the Naked Palette by Urban Decay.

Hazel

Hazel is a rare find, so you are lucky if you have hazel eyes! Our next kind volunteer, Flannery Chapman, also shared with us how she emphasizes her eyes. She likes to gear more towards warmer colors such as red, browns and neutrals with pinker undertones. Don't get scared by the thought of "red" eyeshadow... we just mean more rich, sable browns instead of cooler chocolate browns. The red undertones help to contrast against the blue/green and brown colors that are associated with hazel eyes. Flannery likes to sport more dramatic eye makeup, but on a daily basis she uses a light pinkish-brown on her lids, and deepens up her crease and outer corners with a deep red brown. For hazel, coppers will also accentuate your eyes as well. The colors that Flannery uses can be found in the Lorac Pro Palettes (1 & 2). Be sure when using browns, especially warmer browns, that you blend the edges really well to avoid harsh lines!

Green 

Survey says that the color that makes green eyes stand out is purple... and not that I don't agree with this statement, but for most of us, we don't wear purple eyeshadow on a daily basis. I (Kristen) think that there are ways to go about emphasizing your green eyes other than wearing bright purple everyday. Eyeliner is a great alternative! Using a plum or deep purple eyeliner is a great way to play up the green. Often times it is dark enough to almost look black, which gives you the desired definition, but also adding a little something extra. If the eyeliner trick isn't for you, try using taupe eyeshadow. Taupe is a brownish-grey color with a purple undertone, so you are getting the color impact without it being so stark! It is also a neutral color that you can totally get away with wearing everyday! Try Mac's Satin Taupe, for the perfect amount of purple to make your eyes POP! It is also very reflective, so in different lighting it looks lighter and darker and also draws attention to your eyes. I put Satin Taupe all over my lid, and blended it out with a soft brown color. I also added a shimmery color to my tear duct to make my eyes appear more awake.

Until Next Time! 

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen

Geek Chic

Glasses have made a serious transformation from nerdy to chic in the past decade. No longer do we associate trendy frames with being "weird" or "uncool" but as a way to accessorize or express our own sense of style. But... styling glasses can be tricky! It is hard to know what kind of makeup and what kind of clothes will give you the most flattering "Geek Chic" look. Here are some of our tips on how to style and rock those frames for any occasion!

The Face

Deciding which makeup look to pair with your glasses can be a tricky task to accomplish. There are a few things to consider when deciding where to go with your makeup, specifically your eye makeup. If you are sporting a darker colored frame, like a black or navy then I suggest keeping your eye shadow light and neutral, and your eyeliner subtle. If you have lighter colored frames, or even frameless glasses you can branch out a little bit more with your eyeshadow/liner because you won't have as much of a shadow on your eyes. 

If you are into having more dramatic makeup, you can easily spice up your look with a bold lip color or even a bright flush on your cheeks! This is also the perfect way to transform your look from a lazy day of classes to a night on the town with your friends. We all know we have those days where we can't be bothered to put in our contacts, and for those of you who's specs are fake....no shame we all want to look more sophisticated sometimes!

The deets (details): 

I used my favorite foundation NARS Sheer Glow, and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, to perfect my skin, and to set it all I used my NYX HD setting powder. I decided to go for a stronger contour to make my face standout & make sure it doesn't get lost under my frames. For this I used my Benefit Hoola Bronzer and a little bit of my Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Tipsy for a flush to my cheeks. And onto the main attraction: the eyes. I decided to use a neutral shimmery beige eye shadow on my lid, the slightly add definition with a soft brown through my crease. I used the colors Taupe, and Lt. Bronze from the Lorac Pro Palette. I did my usual winged eyeliner to give my eyes a little bit more definition with the Stila Stay-All Day eyeliner and coated my lashes with the Jordana Best Lash Extreme mascara. To add a little pizzaz I also went for a bold lip with the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in Melted Berry. This helps to take the look from lazy to chic!

Quick Tip: To avoid makeup transferring onto your glasses try setting your make up with a finishing spray to ensure it stays in place! I use the Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray.

There is something about fall time that puts me in a funk, wanting to never put contacts in and just throwing on a big ol' sweater. But, because us girls don't enjoy living like hermit crabs all the time (well, sometimes) we know we have to get out once and a while! I quite often find myself debating whether to throw in my contacts just for the sake of not looking like I just woke up. Not anymore! I came up with two "all black everything" looks including those trendy spectacles (hence geek chic) that are perfect for running errands or going out on the town.

Outfit #1

It just so happens that every piece of clothing in both of these looks are from H&M. They have the most inexpensive clothing and perfect pieces for fall! This first outfit I put together is incredibly comfortable because I am wearing the thickest black leggings of all time, a black tank lined with lace, and a black and white flannel that gives the look some dynamic. I also paired this outfit with my new obsession, patent leather boots, a simple black bag, and a gold chain necklace. I would wear these pieces on more of a chilly day if I am just running errands or going out to lunch. This outfit is extremely casual yet chic and the round framed glasses do nothing but complete the look!

Outfit #2

It's always difficult to make an outfit look somewhat "fancy" when wearing a pair of glasses, but this look is the definition of geek chic and I'm lovin' it. I love the look of sweater dresses for fall, and I finally found the perfect one!  This simple gray dress is a little more edgy because of the black leather sleeves, but that is why I paired it with those same black boots to pull it all together. If you are ever rushing to meet up with your friends out on the town, this outfit takes about 30 seconds to throw together, while adding a gold chain necklace, along with the simple black bag. Glasses are a huge accessory these days, so throw on your specs and don't worry, you have never looked more trendy!

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen 

Fall Into Pampering

As the weather gets colder and the seasons start to change, so do our beauty routines. In the summer we are used to tanned glowing skin, wild beachy hair, and vibrant nail colors...but as the cold approaches, these effortless beauties get stored on the shelf until next summer. As for now, here are some ways to take care and pamper yourself this fall and winter. Enjoy!

Skin

Skin is one of the most important things on our bodies that we try hard to keep in great shape. When it starts to get colder outside we start to enter the snake skin stage...not actually but you know the scaley dry skin that everyone tries to avoid. 

Exfoliate: Yes lotion helps to combat this, but one of the most important steps for treating these scales is to exfoliate. Exfoliating gets off all of the dead skin cells (the scales) and allows your skin to breath again. Removing the dead skin also allows the products that you spend big $$ for to soak in and actually do their job. You can use either an exfoliating scrub (homemade or store bought), or what I prefer are exfoliating gloves. I love using gloves (which can be found at any local drugstore) because I can use my favorite body wash (Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Moisturizing Body Wash) and just massage it over my body with the gloves.

Moisturize: With the cold not only comes hot chocolate and warm fires, but also dry and cracked skin. Hopefully everyone knows how important for your skin it is to moisturize, but if you don't...IT IS SO IMPORTANT. Not using lotion not only leaves you looking dry and ashy, but also ages your skin faster. Slab on your favorite scented (or not scented) lotion when you are done with the shower, and for those who are morning showerers, also before you go to bed at night. I use Philosophy's Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion, which soaks in fast and leaves my skin feeling soft all day long. 

To my sun bunnies: If you are like me and HATE being pale, but don't see the worth in damaging your skin by laying in tanning beds...then you should check out self tanner. I am a self tanner junkie and couldn't be more proud. It allows me to be tan in the winter without all the negative repercussions. Self tanners come in many different formulas including mousse, spray and lotions for different desired techniques. I have used all and really prefer to use a spray formula. This is the easiest in my opinion to apply, just spray all over your body or the desired area, and blend in with a tanning mitt. I use the Million Dollar Tan Icon Extreme spray and a mitt I bought from Ulta. For touch ups and to keep my tan fresh I also use the Cabana Tan Extreme Lotion. Self tanning isn't for everyone but it is a little thing that can make the world of the difference!

Hair

Halt!! Put down that sea salt spray and pick up that round brush! Unlike the summer with its texturized and beachy hair, fall and winter are all about smoothness. Seeing that our hair is naturally drier in the cold weather, texturizing sprays are not a necessity. Instead, oils and hair protectors are. 

Protect: As we love our pin straight hair and sleek curls, we don't want to damage our hair more than we have to. Using a heat protectant is much more essential now than in the summer when you just let your hair free fall. Spray your heat protectant on before you blow dry your hair, (or if you let your hair air dry), before applying heat. I use the Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Protectant Spray. 

Tame: Fall is the time we trade frizz for static. Instead of taming frizz we start to focus on not making us look like we got electrocuted every time we touch our hair. While Argan oil does tame frizz, it is also great for sleeking your hair and controlling static. I use the Nume Argan Oil, which is a bit pricy, but for an cheaper alternative check out Organix Argan Oil Put this just through the ends of your hair before styling. It will also act as another heat protectant and make your hair silky and super shiny. 

Treat: I would never forget to mention a good hair mask! With our hair getting drier, or hair gets more vulnerable to damage. In order to help keep my hair silky and soft I like to use a deep conditioning mask once a week on my hair. I apply this in the shower in place of my conditioner and let it soak in for about 5-10 minutes. I use the Macademia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque, which lasts forever and is the best thing since sliced bread.

Nails

The air is starting to get crisp which means those nails deserve a manicure! I always find myself anxiously awaiting for seasons to change, mostly because, out come the new popular shades of nail color. But, we can't get too ahead of ourselves and focus all of our attention on the polishes (although, that is the exciting part) we have to remember to nourish those cuticles!

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!: Very many of us forget all about our cuticles, and most of the time we are able to get away with it, especially in the summer. But my friends, summer has turned into the "been there done that" season of 2014, and it's time to face the cold weather. Due to the drop in temperature, our skin begins to crack and dry up, especially around our nail beds. The Orly Argan Oil Cuticle Drops  nourish your cuticles and sets them up for healthy nail growth for the future. Once you have applied these drops, continue moisturizing your hands throughout the day and you will be all set for the fall and winter season!

Polish: In the summer we tend to lean towards the bright shades of pink, but wearing those colors in October just doesn't seem right. Now, during the fall season it does seem right to start wearing burnt shades of red and deep, deep purples. So I found two nail colors that I believe would look fantastic when gripped around a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte. The first color I fell in love with is Essie's Wicked which is a perfect mixture of dark purple and sinister red. This shade is so versatile that it will look great during the fall or winter! The next color that screams "fall time" is Essie's Macks. Macks is a ruby red color that looks more gloomy (in a good way!) each coat you put on. The key to having a perfect manicure is choosing the right shade for the right time. 

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen