revlon expression experiment: challenge accepted!

This post brought to you by Revlon. All opinions are 100% mine.

the countdown is on ... i'm 10 days from turning 30.

i mentioned last week that i might be having a slight crisis. i ordered a sample of emu oil (yes bird juice!) promising younger looking skin. i brought a picture of a rock star to my stylist and asked for "her hair". i've walked over 15 miles since saturday in 90 degree heat hoping my teenage butt will make a reappearance. i asked wade if it would be weird for the mother of his children to have a tattoo sleeve. yes - though i still haven't bought that neon bra - i might be having a slight crisis.

just in time, i stumbled upon the Revlon Expression Experiment.

Revlon's mission has always been to inspire and encourage women to express themselves! Revlon Expression Experiment celebrates the essence of the Revlon brand while engaging w/ the modern consumer. their interactive Revlon Expression Experiment Facebook App includes how-to video tutorials with celebrity makeup artists, weekly makeup application tips, product recommendations and most importantly monthly challenges!

as a participating blogger, i received a kit including 4 separate challenges:

1 // the bright eyes eye shadow challenge
2 // the perfect canvas makeup primer challenge
3 // the daring nail polish challenge
4 // the red lipstick challenge  - this month's challenge on the Revlon Expression Experiment Facebook App

what better way to usher in my 30s than RED LIPSTICK? challenge accepted!!!

 

 {source: revlon}

i typically wear a little concealer as spot treatment, a neutral eye shadow + a little mascara and a soft peach blush on the apples of my cheeks. very minimal. you could maybe even call my look "makeup boring". adding a red lip to my morning routine was anything but boring! and completely rev-ed up my wardrobe - my typical white t-shirt and skinnies felt "blair gone fashionista" w/ a bright red pout! how crazy is that!?! the challenge gave an extra bold boost to both my look and my confidence.

FOR WORK:                                        FOR PLAY:                                     FOR EVENING:
 

{l to r}
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Fire

all 3 of the samples were amazing reds! but I personally like the ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart the best. the buttery balm made my lips feel younger and healthier. and since i usually only wear gloss, the red was a bit less intimidating than the Lustrous Lipstick and ColorBurst Lip Gloss (a very thick, high pigment gloss).

a few tips to going RED:

avoid dark eye makeup. pair your red lipstick w/ light eye makeup. i wear a nude eye shadow w/ shimmer & a little mascara.

prevent bleeding. apply a little concealer around the edge of your mouth & powder to your lips to keep your color on your kisser!

avoid a red teeth disaster. after applying your lipstick, place your finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it and then slowly pull it out to remove excess color.

uh oh! check out this ehow link for "how to remove lipstick stains from fabric".

okay - now it's your turn! join the movement of self expression with the Revlon Expression Experiment Facebook App. there's still time to jump on this month's red lipstick bandwagon - and you'll be all set for next month's challenge! CLICK HERE to sign up and let me know below if it's a "challenge accepted".

{shop} my morning routine ...

last night i went shopping w/ my best friend laura. w/ my november clothes money burning a whole in my pocket (yes a bit premature) and feeling all kinds of courageous, i set out determined to come home w/ something fun. and then ... i bought the exact same pair of skinny jeans that i've bought 2x before! {these fantastic skinnies from banana.}

okay okay - so maybe i'm a creature of habit. i prefer to believe that i live by the expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". at least that's the way i feel w/ my morning routine ...

i used to fuss w/ new products each month. every trip to the grocery store or pharmacy included a new lip gloss or facial concoction guaranteed to make me look like a supermodel. i was a total sucker for items on sale - 2 for the price of 1 ... a major bargain shopper - but bargains add up!

my method today is to enlist a few good men products:

1 // la roche-posay's toleriane purifying foaming cream & anthelios sx daily moisturizer w/ spf 15. i firmly believe that if you spend a bit more on facial care to create a healthy palette - you'll spend less trying to cover up flaws in the long run. the foaming cream is extremely gentle on sensitive skin (believe me!) and the moisturizer is winner of 12 beauty awards including: women’s health 2010 “expert’s pick" and instyle 2009 best beauty buy “daytime moisturizer with spf”. not gonna lie - i've also purchased the effaclar dual action acne treatment (2011 allure best of beauty award winner - beauty breakthrough) and the effaclar toner in the past - and love them both. 

2 //  everything glominerals! their products are a bit pricier than other mineral makeups. but again ... if you have healthy skin you won't have to use as much product ... and that means it LASTS. i bought their pressed base, protective liquid foundation in satin, and oil-free camoflauge before our engagement pictures in may of 2010 and i've only had to replace the pressed base once! plus the product is non-comodogenic and free of perfumes and dyes plus it includes antioxidants, vitamins A, K, C and E and green tea extract. healthy stuff.

3 // mac cremesheen glass. this was a recommendation from one of my makeup artists & has quickly become the only lip gloss i'll buy. the 2010 SHAPE of beauty winner, it's extremely moisturizing and yet not sticky ... so appreciated during windy fall days. i keep a tube of richer, lusher and geo pink on me at all times!

4 // i've mentioned the dermorganic argan oil hair treatment system before ... here! it's a shampoo, masque and leave-in treatment w/ argan oil, omega-6, antioxidants and vitamin e (plus it's vegan & gfree). i started using this product back in june ... and i'm hooked. shiny, healthy looking hair - yes, please! especially while i'm growing it out and possibly going a bit too long between trims. (ps - i also LOVE pure argan oil on my under eyes - a bit of crow's feet prevention.)

5 // my best friend whitney has the most beautiful eyes ... and her secret? ulta's eye shadow collection.  okay and really good genes! they have over 90 colors to choose from. i could definitely waste a day exploring all the options! 

6 // want to know a little secret? i didn't start wearing mascara until about 5 years ago. wanting to purchase the best, i asked one of my makeup artists what she recommended. and i was surprised when she recommended maybelline's great lash mascara (you know ... the one in the pink and green bottle) not some $50 bottle. did you know it's been around for over 40 years!?! still within maybelline's mascara line ... i've graduated to using their colossal volume express mascara.

7 // last but not least ... a pink cheek just makes me feel better not to mention look better. i currently use sonia kashuk's beautifying blush in melon. sonia was the creative director of cosmetics for aveda from 1989 through 1997. aveda first noticed her for her great colors! then in 1998, she launched her beauty line w/ target - determined to make her new makeup line prestige-quality makeup in elegant packaging at an accessible price point. bonus - have you checked out her brushes?

okay okay ... plenty about me. so what's in your beauty arsenal?

pulling my hair out ...

i have 7 albums due to the plant by next thursday!!! that's right i said SEVEN.

4 to art direct and 3 to design in house. not to mention my regular crazy workload ... 2 digital books, 3 stickers, countless ads, 10 catalog ocards, 2 photo shoots to choose selects from and a couple of christmas pitches (yes i said christmas!). i'm pulling my hair out here!

wade is heading out of town on sunday for the week - the big national conference he's been planning for months. and then IF i can wrap all 7 of my projects, we are leaving town for an entire week. heading to rural illinois and eliminating all forms of work communication! {fingers crossed} again ... i'm pulling my hair out here!

speaking of hair ... i got a bit of a trim last night. as much as i would love to go crazy - and try something in the sincerley, jules vein ...

{source: sincerely, jules}

... i opted for my same ol' same ol'.

i've mentioned before that i'm growing my hair out. it was chin length before i met wade. over the years, it's been a bit of everything - short, long, curly, straight, highlighted, lowlighted ... even red at one point (i'll try to find proof!)! currently ... i'm plain jane - long and natural.

and with every inch, i am more motivated to let it grow and grow.

they say you should get your hair chopped every 6-8 weeks to keep it healthy, right!?! 6-8 weeks for me is cutting off the most recent growth. sigh. but then there's the issue of split ends if you don't regularly trim!?! ho hmm.

confession: i am a bit obsessed w/ trimming my split ends! it's pretty much my go-to when i'm bored or in an uncomfortable situation ... or just breathing.

my latest plan of attack ... better product. specifically - the dermOrganic morrocan argan oil hair treatment trio:

dermOrganic uses argan oil - which i've spoken about before. while we were honeymooning in essaouira, morocco we were told over and over and over again to pick up a bottle of two of argan oil bc it's so much cheaper there. of course instead, wade ended up with a white linen hippie shirt (that he's never worn in public!) and i ended up w/ some leather elf looking shoes (that i've never worn in public!). and then about a month after returning to the states, i found a sample of pure argan oil at sephora and have been hooked (and broke) ever since!

dermOrganic's argan oil hair treatments claim to provide nourishment for the hair with radiant and healthy shine. in addition to argan oil, they are rich in omega-6, antioxidants and vitamin E that penetrate the hair to create a barrier against the damaging effects of heat, sun and wind. oh - and they're 100% vegan and gluten free. sweet!

today is day 2 - and i'll admit my hair looks good. and it smells good! :)

what are your split end tricks? ... and what do you think - should i go crazy and get a subtle ombre w/ birthday money later this summer!?! (crazy subtle, if you will.)