Pretty in Pink

Reese Witherspoon is probably one of my favorite style icons, right behind Carrie Underwood of course.
Reese always looks polished, classic and radiant.  Her latest public appearance was at the Governors Awards, a ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (the people who host the Academy Awards!).  This small ceremony honors three individuals with special achievement awards.
For her Governors Awards look, Reese opted for a classic sheath in a beautiful shade of magenta.

Reese let the hue of her dress do the talking and kept accessories to a minimum.  I absolutely adore the shade of pink used on her lips.  It complements her skin tone without overpowering her look.
Well done, Elle Woods!

No More, It's On Us

Look at these facts:
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience violence from their partners in their lifetimes.
1 in 3 teens experience sexual or physical abuse or threats from a boyfriend or girlfriend in one year.
1 in 5 women are survivors of rape.
1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lives.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18.

This information came from NoMore.org, an organization dedicated to bring public awareness to an issue that has remained hidden and "on the margins of public concern".

Today's blog post is a little different than my normal topics.  I wanted to share with you two videos that deliver a powerful message in the fight against domestic violence.

Lately, we've seen the NFL under serious fire for several of its players being brought up on domestic abuse charges.  And unfortunately, Greeks always seem to be scrutinized for parties and out of control behavior.  In this age of accountability, it's important for organizations to have a voice and to be active in portraying their true values. These two organizations have spoken through PSAs.

If you are an avid football fan, you may have already seen this PSA put out by the NoMore.org.  It stars current and former NFL players, like Eli Manning, all pledging to say "no more" excuses for violent behavior. (NoMore.org)  

Another powerful video came from George Washington University's Greek community.

Their message, "It's On Us", to stop our peers from engaging in such behavior. (TSM)

I wanted to discuss this issue because domestic violence is commonly overlooked until a tragic incident is publicized by the media.  

Victims of domestic violence need support.  Abusers need to be stopped. We need to come together, raise awareness and say no more because moving forward is on us.

New Beauty Tool: Tarte "The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer"

I was poking around on the Ulta website the other day and came across this new product from Tarte.  At first I figured it was just a contouring stick.  But I looked more closely, I realized it was much more "ornate" than that.

Tarte is claiming this product will give you the appearance of a slenderized face with just the swipe of a crayon. "Drop 5 pounds in 5 minutes," the ad boasted.   I thought it was far out there, then I watched the accompanying video:


I don't know about you, but I am not impressed with the video.  I think the product is too over the top, and the video did a poor job of showcasing its application.  Products typically do poorly in the market because customers do not understand its application.  This video barely showcased the blending process on the model's check!  For customers to truly understand how to use this product, they need to see her actually blending that ultra dark line (which in my opinion was too much) with that specific brush.  Seeing the technique the model uses is important to at-home success.

The stick will only be ideal for a limited number of skin tones, and I can easily see users becoming easily frustrated with it.

If you are interested, check it out at Ulta for $24.

Nail News: OPI's Infinite Shine

Since the introduction of gel nail treatments, cosmetic companies have consistently been creating new formulas for "at home gel" or "gel-like shine" polishes.  The market is becoming very saturated, and I've been hearing mixed reviews about everything.  Prestige brands like Essie and OPI have kept their gel formulas to salon only.  However, OPI is now releasing a line called Infinite Shine.
Infinite Shine is a three step gel effects system promising shine and flawless wear for 7-10 days.  The lacquer does not require any LED lights and takes off just like normal OPI lacquer.  As of now there are 30 shades in the line, and I imagine if it is successful, they will continue adding colors from their seasonal collections.
Typically I stay away from the three step systems put out by drugstore brands; just because in my experience, you get what you pay for.  I'd rather spend money on the prestige brands knowing I will get the color and formula payoff that I am looking for.  With that being said, I am very interested in seeing how well OPI's Infinite Shine works.  The bottles currently being sold on Amazon are priced at $18, which certainly adds up.  As it becomes more widely available, hopefully the price will drop.  Word on the street is these babies will be sold in stores November 3rd, however a definitive list of locations carrying the line has yet to be disclosed.

Step 1: Primer 

 

Step 2: Polish

Step 3: Gloss

Here's a wall display of the product line!

Happy painting!

OOTD: Ankle Pants

Hey guys. One of my favorite looks for fall has to be ankle pants.  I think they are so versatile, you can dress them up or down and provide you with a very polished look.  They can be worn with flats or boots making them a great transition piece.

Here is one of my recent looks with a pair of Old Navy's Pixie Ankle Pant in Black.

I love wearing nude flats with these because they do not compete with the color of the pants which can result in cutting your body off in weird places.  

My blouse is from LOFT, no longer available, my necklace is from Express, and my flats are Steve Madden, here is a similar pair.

Old Navy has a great selection of colors and prints, and are at a reasonable price.  I also love to check out Target.  I was able to get a really great pair of bright pink ankle pants this summer.  Target currently has some great jewel tones for fall, I have a pair in plum (which looks great with the J.Crew Herringbone Vest...)

Love Your Locks

A common complaint I hear from girls always has to do with their hair.  Either they totally hate it, they don't know what to do with it, or they want a change but don't really know what they want.  I can tell you right now that half of those issues come from checking out Kate Middleton's and Blake Lively's luscious locks.

 

Did I give you hair envy? If so sorry, but I know I can't help but drool over their effortless waves and blowouts.

The key to loving your hair is to understand your hair.  You gotta love what your mom and your dad gave you because that is all you've got.  Spend some time understanding your hair's texture and thickness.  Notice where it varies on your scalp.  For example, my hair is very thick in the back, but it slightly thins out closer to my hair line.  I think it is from years of swimming and having a cap on!  Another thing you can do to better understand your hair is to talk to your stylist.  If you want your locks to be doing something that they aren't, ask what you can do to style it differently.  Sometimes its all in the brush you use to blow dry your hair!

You also have to treat your hair right.  Don't straighten it or curl it everyday.  Don't wash it everyday.  Yah you heard me, washing your hair everyday can actually make it greasier or even dry your hair out if you aren't using the best formula for you.  I try to wash my hair three-four times a week.  Meaning, dry shampoo is sometimes my best friend!

I decided to write this post after seeing The Beauty Department's two part post on layers (Part One & Part Two).  I am a big fan of layers because it thins out my hair and gives it movement.  So I thought I would share this with you all in the hopes you would feel more inspired to love your hair and to treat your hair right!

Be your own kind of beautiful ladies.

Hiatus

Religious followers of the blog may have noticed I have been quiet inactive over the past few months, specifically last month.  I was extremely busy this summer working two jobs and an internship and was very involved in the planning of my beautiful cousin's wedding.

To provide you all with an update:
I have returned back to Marist, and am so excited to be back.  I have a job on campus and am still a part of the women's fraternity Kappa Kappa Gamma.  I really missed my sisters so much!
What has changed:
-I am out of dorm room living for good! No longer am I sharing a bathroom with 58 girls!!!! Instead I am living in a house of 10 girls.  It is three floors, with double bedrooms and we have three bathrooms.  I live in the basement (which may sound sketchy, but trust me it really isn't), with my roommate and two other girls.  We have our own bathroom and a small common room.  With this house comes the big obstacle of cooking for myself. Yikes! I have a meal plan of one meal per week in the dining hall, so I have to up my cooking chops ASAP. My recent accomplishment has been omelettes, which for those of you who know me, know I have a hard time with eggs, so this is major.
-My cousin got married! The wedding was Sept. 20th and it was on a small farm is Massachusetts and was absolutely wonderful.  Again, I will be posting pictures of that as well!
-I am officially in my 20s! I turned 20 last weekend, and am slightly in denial about no longer being a teenager.  When did all of this happen?!
-New nail polish storage! A post soon to come!
What to look forward to from Glitter in Her Hair:
-More OOTD posts
-Special Product Reviews
-Collaborations

Thanks for sticking around guys!