My Favorite Clothing Stores

My absolute go-to stores to shop at !!

I don't think you need to spend a fortune on clothes to find quality clothes!

(in no order)

I love Marshall's (and TJ Maxx) because 

they have name brands that are discounted and great quality!

Whenever I go here, I have to get a cart because 

I usually have 10+ things to try on........

Does this need an explanation?

They have everyone's style of clothing.

You can always find something you like here

This is kind of like a thrift store but it's for modern day clothes.

It's aimed at teens and young adults.

You can actually find nice clothes at this place!

And you can sell your gently-used clothes there too!

I'm ALWAYS tempted to buy something in the target women's department.

They have such cute things there every season.

This really doesn't need an explanation either......

Although they're clothes are on the spendier side of affordable

They're quality clothes that are worth the few extra bucks. 

I have been pleased with every single thing I have bought from here :)

Plus they're yoga pants are my favorite everrrrr

I came across this store summer 2011 and I have ordered from them a few times.

Go Jane is an online women's apparel store.

They are very trendy and affordable!

My favorite things from there are their shoes!

I have a love/hate relationship with this store

I feel like they're prices are all over the place

but whenever I find something I like on their website...

I HAVE TO GET IT.

Any stores you'd recommend?

xox Stephanie

Products I use DAILY on my hair.

I enjoy having really soft, good-smelling, touchable hair (who doesn't?)!!

These are the few products I use everyday, whether I'm curling, straightening, or just leaving my hair au naturale.........

I ALWAYS condition my hair.

Conditioning it helps to keep it healthy when it's long.

My favorite leave-in conditioning product is Healthy Sexy Hair's Leave-In Conditioner

THIS PRODUCT. omg you guys. 

when you spray it in your hair, and go to comb out the tangles, 

you don't even feel knots in your hair! They brush right out!

This keeps your hair moisturized and it prevents your hair from getting split ends.

I also use either a Moroccan oil or argon oil.

Right now I'm using the 

Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil weightless healing dry oil by Organix

This is what gives your hair that extra shine and soft feel to it.

It is also very protective against any damage and heat!

This hair routine is pretty much identical to Lauren Conrad's everyday hair products that she talked about in Allure Magazine and it has done wonders to my hair!

xox Stephanie

How To Grow Long Hair and Keep It Long !!

I haven't always had long hair.

 Back in sixth grade, I chopped it off above my shoulders! (I hated it)

Throughout high school it was a few inches past my shoulders.

(please excuse the poor quality and unfortunate picture but you get the point!)

From 7th grade through 9th grade I would straighten my hair everyday...

with a CRAPPY straightener...

and NO heat protector!!!

(once again, I apologize for the crappy quality!! but if you look closely, you can see I have split ends all the way up to my eyebrow area in my hair and the ends of my hair are really brittle!)

I had to figure out a way to not only grow it longer, but also repair the damage I had done to my hair.

I stopped using heat all in all for a while (i'd say 6 months with MOSTLY no heat)

and I wore my hair up a lot. 

(you can simply cut back on the heat but i just decided to go all out)

This helped it a lot and my hair got healthier.

BUT...

After high school when I started getting really into beauty related stuff,

I learned that I NEEDED to use some form of a heat protector 

whenever I would decide to use heat on my hair.

I used this Tresemme one for a while and I really like it

But I did my research and found that 

really any product that conditions your hair will work as a heat protector!

You don't need to buy a special product!

So as long as you use some kind of oil, serum, or leave-in conditioner in your hair, you will be fine!

I love these:

I also learned you need to condition, Condition, CONDITION!!

These are my favorites:

Use a conditioner every time you shower,

(it says it is a deep conditioner but I don't feel it works well enough for that)

And use a leave-in conditioner

AND deep condition it at least once every week!

Now my hair is MUCH thicker and very healthy and I do my best to take care of it!

And about getting haircuts when you are trying to grow your hair long..........

Back when my hair was super damaged, I would go in about every 6 months to get it cut 

and the stylist would always want to chop all the dead/split ends off.

(they can actually travel up the shaft of the hair!!)

I would recommend going in about every 3-4 months until your hair is healthier again

and once it is healthy, then you can go in every 6-12 months to get a trim.

If you like a lot of layers in your hair (like me), I wouldn't go more than 6 months without getting a haircut!

Other recommendations:

I have heard and researched a lot on prenatal vitamins helping hair to grow longer!

I haven't personally tried it, but I know people who have and it worked well for them.

Hair masks also help restore damaged hair!

RECAP!

As little heat on your hair as possible

Protect it with a leave-in conditioner, oil or serum

Condition everyday and deep condition once a week!

Get haircuts every 4 months until it is healthy again

Then get haircuts every 6-12 months!

Hope this helps !!

xox Stephanie

Beginner Tips: Eyelid/Eyeshadow Primer

I went through a period in time where I sinned when it came to eye-shadow....

I DIDN'T USE PRIMER 

ALL THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL.

yep.

I ended up with creasy greasy lids. 

After I started getting more into makeup, I learned eye primer is a must have!

It's very easy to apply, you just use your fingers.

My favorite eyelid primer is the $1 ELF eyeshadow primer

It is the cheapest one I have found that works just the same as any other high-end primer!

THE TRICK TO THE ELF EYELID PRIMER IS:

you have to layer it 2-4 times (depending on how oily your lids are)

(I did notice they actually came out with other colors to brighten your eyeshadow as well!)

new e.l.f. eyelid primers

For the price that you pay for this amazing product, I am more than willing to layer it!

but after you layer it, it will stay all day, guaranteed!

xox Stephanie

L'Oreal True Match Foundation Review

I never actually tried this foundation up until about February of 2012 

because whenever I would see it at Target or Walmart, 

I would always think there wasn't much in the bottle!

I was perusing through YouTube one day and found that 

Kandee Johnson's favorite foundation was this L'Oreal True Match foundation. 

And she had a really cool application trick that I wanted to try...

I went out and bought it and these are my thoughts

Here's a link to my "My Skin Type" blog post for reference

I am in the color light ivory W2 (pale freak I know!)

and for the sides of the face for contouring I use W4

Pros:

As I said previously, I purchased this foundation back in February 

and I am still on my first bottle as of today!

It has 1.0 fl oz just like most other drugstore foundations

It has 17 SPF which is perfect for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays

It is a very light-weight formula so you don't feel like you have cakey and heavy makeup on

VERY buildable. 

I'll usually do one thin layer just to even out my skin tone, but

if I want more coverage i'll do two thin layers on areas that need it most

VERY wide color selection. Most I've seen for a drugstore foundation!

They have a whole wide selection for different undertones: cold (pink), neutral, and warm (yellow)

Easily accessible- you can find it at most drugstores

IT DOESN'T BREAK ME OUT.

It applies great with a beauty blender sponge

Cons:

I'd prefer a pump style bottle but this is one that you have to pour out.

at $9, I feel like it should almost be like a $7-$8 foundation...

You absolutely HAVE to use a primer under this foundation 

because it will not last all day otherwise (on semi-oily skin).

You should also set it with a powder.

I don't put any setting powder on my cheeks because I like them to look more dewy,

but I do put powder on the middle of my forehead, nose, sides of nose, upper lip and chin 

where I get most oily.

(I like this powder and the one for sensitive skin too)

If at 10am you prime your face, apply the foundation and a concealer on top, and set it with powder,

it should last almost all day 

You will see a little bit of wear off by 8-10pm

would I repurchase?

yes :)

this was requested by a fellow beauty blogger Beauty On A College Budget

go check out her blog!! i love it.

xox Stephanie

Summer Nail Polish Colors

My Favorite Summery Nail Colors 

[that accentuate a tan ;)]

I love to wear bright colors in the summer.

Light Blue

Revlon Blue Lagoon

Hot Pink

China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy

White

China Glaze White Out

Turquoise

China Glaze For Audrey

Peach
Essie Tart Deco

Purple

China Glaze Spontaneous

Fuchsia
China Glaze Purple Panic

xoxo Stephanie

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer Review

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer

PROS:

This primer goes on smoothly.

Lasts ALL day on my oily sensitive skin.

Doesn't have a noticeablely scent.

DOESN'T BREAK ME OUT.

Goes on sheer or clear.

Creates smooth surface over my acne and scars for even foundation application.

Isn't drying!

Affordable: $7-$8

CONS:

Can be hard to find......

Walmart carries it.

Or hardcandy.com carries it

My favorite face primer!

Would definitely recommend to any skin type because it works with my highly sensitive skin!

xox Stephanie

Cover Girl Clean Sensitive Skin Pressed Powder Review

Cover Girl Clean Sensitive Skin Pressed Powder

I am not normally a fan of Cover Girl products.

I love their eyeshadow trio in Shimmering Sands.

And I love their Lash Blast Volume (non waterproof) Mascara.

I have been trying out many drugstore powders and this one I have come to love!

I am in the shade 225 buff beige

PROS:

Great formula

Feels soft on face

Doesn't look cakey when applied on top of natural skin oils!

Gives some coverage

Makes skin completely matte

Applies best with flat top foundation brush

CONS:

Lasts about 3-4 hours (with oily skin)
I have to reapply it a few times during the day which I don't mind.

Ugly packaging

I don't like the powder puff it comes with

(but I will use it if I keep it in my purse)

This is my favorite drugstore powder I have found yet!

xox Stephanie

Benefit Coralista Blush Dupe: E.L.F. Candid Coral Blush !!

I've done some research, and there is definately a dupe for Benefit Coralista Blush!

It is the E.L.F. Candid Coral Blush

I have terrible lighting in my house so here is a swatch from online.....

Top swatch is E.L.F. Candid Coral

Bottom swatch is Benefit Coralista

all credit for photo goes to Beauty Junkie London

I think the Candid Coral color is slightly more orange than the Coralista.
The Benefit color is a darker blush than the ELF one.

I also think the Coralista has a brighter shimmer to it than the Candid Coral.

But they are so similar that...

 I would personally go for the E.L.F. Candid Coral to save a few buck$ !

xox Stephanie