Stepping Outside My Beauty Comfort Zone For The Holidays #MKholidaylooks

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Mary Kay® and Conde Nast.  All opinions are my own.


I was a tomboy.  Girly things and makeup didn't come naturally to me.  It was awkward because I heard stories of my mama being a beauty queen (without makeup!) and remember her gorgeous long hair...  I remember the first time I ever tried on makeup, I was 15 years old, my family was out shopping and one of Madonna's music videos came on MTV and I wanted to try eyeliner.  After almost poking my eye out, I got it on and I was so excited to show it off.  This was back in the days where cordless phones were in so I had to wait till my folks got home to show off my "look".  The humor in this is my parents were totally strict and I wasn't the type to share with them but I'm not sure if it was my excitement or they finally felt I was getting into girly things that they went along with it, maybe they laughed, I don't know... I didn't let anything ruin my first attempt at makeup.

I have never been one to experiment much after that.  I had one set look and that was that.  Maybe it's the tomboy in me but a little foundation, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lip gloss and I was good to go.  I did love buying new makeup and letting it just sit there.  I doubt I'm the only one!!!  When Mary Kay invited me to try one of their holiday makeup looks, I was like are you sure... I'm not a beauty blogger at all.  But I was glad they did because it gave me a bigger appreciation for beauty bloggers.  It is hard work and don't for one minute think that putting yourself out there showing off every blemish in detail is easy.  I love a good challenge and it was honestly, so good for my soul to be put outside of my comfort zone.

I dare you to step out of your comfort zone for the holidays and in 2014!  

This is my attempt at Mary Kay Flapper Chic - Flirty and fun flapper style of the 1920s.  Key elements in the look are: dramatic smoky eyes, neutral lips and cheeks to balance an intense eye look.  The other holiday looks are Silver Screen Siren and The White-Hot Suit.  Check out all 3 looks inspired by celebrity makeup artist Mariela Bagnato and Saucy Glossie blogger, Lindsey Calla!  

Don't mind my eyebrows, my husband cleaned up my dresser when I was away in Vegas and I haven't been able to find my favorite tweezer.  So here's the deal, I never ever wear eyeshadow but I really love Mary Kay at Play™Eye Trio in Tuxedo.  I don't even know how to blend but it looks good!  I'm also more of a liquid eyeliner type girl but really liked the eyeliner.  My absolute favorite is the lash primer - omg do you see my eyelashes - so dramatic!  Big fan of the mascara too because it is very light!  

Remind me to buy a remote for my camera because my husband drove me crazy trying to take my picture.  Another favorite is the Mary Kay® Mineral Bronzing Powder in Desert Sun - I applied it right above the blush (Mary Kay Shy Blush) and on my nose.  Love it!

Mary Kay makes great gifts for the holidays, pick up my faves!

Discovering style at Sears #ThisisStyle

Summer is almost here and it is definitely my second best season to dress for... I love shopping for dresses!  I live in dresses the minute the sun is out and temps hit 76 degrees!  Dresses are an affordable fashion piece that you can pair up with something you already have and then go out and buy accessories to dress up your outfit!  Earlier this month I went to SoFabCon (an amazing blogger and brand conference by Collective Bias) and in chatting with friends found out some good looking outfits were totally from Sears.  I really couldn't believe it, Sears fashion stepped it up.  I haven't shopped at a Sears store in years.  I was under the impression it was a man's store - it was where men went to get their tools!

With Memorial Day around the corner, I needed to get a pair of good sunglasses for all the fun shindigs.  My optometrist tells me all the time that I need to protect my eyes with sunglasses but have I listened to him?  No.  For the sake of fashion and my husband hounding me to get a pair... Yes.  I had the perfect pair in mind.  Big and cheetah print!  Maybe even a pair of cute sandals... I've been hunting for a fun shade of blue!

Not only did I find my perfect sunglasses but they were 30% off!  I also found another pair of cute sunglasses that I had to have and 2 pairs of earrings - all of that for $60 and I got rewards by using my Shop Your Way Rewards Card!  SCORE!  I am going to look so cute accessorizing up my outfits this Memorial Day!

I am totally flaunting how awesome my Sears is... The American flag and palm trees... Southern California doesn't get any better than this!  This one is at Buena Park Downtown - I love my city!

So the entrance we just randomly chose to park next to was the men's department.  Wah!  Show me the fashion!

And then I found the shoe section!!!

Oh my, there she is there - my sunglasses!  SOLD!  Ring me up!

These caught my eye - pretty much because I tend not to wear earrings because I like my hair in the front (refer to the picture above) but I have seen some women look spectacular with huge earrings and I had to have it for the colors and textures.  SOLD!  Ring me up!

These also caught my attention because of the cheetah but I didn't want to go overboard...

My husband loved these Kardashion Kollection cat eye sunglasses and I gave in and got 'em - got on my cheetah print dress with my trusty denim jacket and a pair of earrings I picked up from Sears!

I recently purchased this blue top and thought it would go well with my big earrings.  I like!  This picture is totally unflattering because I am in the process of training my husband to take my picture.  EEK!  This is the look of frustration!  I love these earrings by the way - they are the gateway to more earrings!


I am totally sold on Sears now - Are you?
Check out my whole shopping trip on my Sears Google+ Album! 

Get Social with searsStyle:  @searsStyle on Twitter / searsStyle on Facebook / searsStyle

L'Oréal #MagicBBCream Review

Another confession!  I was a little bit of a tomboy because my mom was a natural beauty and never talked girly things with me.  I wore dresses, had Barbies but I was the one climbing trees and playing in the mud.  My BFF in junior high school wore makeup when we were 13 but I was 16 years old when I went for it.  I was inspired by a Madonna music video on MTV.  It was in the 90s when MTV still played music videos.  My weapon of choice: pencil eyeliner.  And you had to have a good sharpener and a lighter.  I remember the first time I applied it, my mom was out grocery shopping with my siblings and they came home and I was so stoked to show it off.  What a dork!  I wish I could tell you that I really got into makeup but I've always kept it simple.  Foundation, liquid eyeliner (I upgraded!), mascara, blush and lipgloss.  My younger sister lucked out and got the talent and true love for makeup (she's a MUA!)

Fast forward to now --- Being pregnant, labor, delivery and taking care of a baby sucks the life out of my skin and hair.  My body suffers for about two years.  My face has been breaking out like crazy and I really want to mellow out my foundation use.  I have tried unsuccessfully for a few years to find something that would work for lighter coverage and I finally found it - L'Oréal Magic BB Cream!  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I squirted the tube on my palm and out came white liquid.  Its not firm at all and I went with my instinct and rubbed it together.  Thats when the color started to change and it actually matched my skin!  I applied it to my face with my hands and when it started to dry I was a bit nervous that there was no coverage.  After a few minutes I could definitely see it working.  I tried to take a selfie but I don't even know how to do it right!  I spent my day out & about and it felt like I barely had any makeup on, I loved it!    

About L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: This product gives the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization.

To apply, simply dot on and blend with fingertips. Self-adjusting beads will instantly transform and blend to your skin tone.

L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream retails for $10.95 for 1 fl oz. It is available in four shades and is sold at mass food and drug retailers nationwide. Click here to find out more.

  

I checked Target and the current price on L'Oréal Magic BB Cream there is $7.99

Drugstore.com has it for $10.95 with 30% off EVERYTHING in their makeup department! 

Join me at the #MagicBBCream Twitter Party w/ @SheSpeaksUp & @LOrealParisUSA 3/7 9pm ET! http://bit.ly/loprsvp

Lucky winners* participating in the Twitter Party will be randomly selected to win prizes including L'Oréal Paris beauty baskets that include Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream and more! We're giving away over $700 in prizes.  One lucky winner will take home our grand prize, a $250 Target gift card!

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary product from SheSpeaks/L'Oreal to facilitate this review.  There is an affiliate link in this post.  All thoughts are my own.