Jeans: DL1961 Bella Vintage Crop: https://shopstyle.it/l/4B1j (similar pair https://shopstyle.it/l/4B0p)
Top: Prologue Women’s Long Sleeve V-Neck Essential Popover Blouse – PrologueTM Black https://shopstyle.it/l/4B1m
Headband: H&M Leopard Headband with Knot https://shopstyle.it/l/4B0s
Getting glam for the Summer is a little more difficult than it sounds, simply because it gets to be about 200 degrees here in Texas. Keeping a few items on hand which can be worn with just about anything is super important. For this wild Texas heat, I like to throw on cotton tee shirts to pair with cropped, destroyed denim, or cute little shorts. For accessories, I keep them small to avoid being overwhelmed by the bulk, and I avoid printed or logo bags so that I don’t get tired of them. Jewels are kept to a minimum because nothing is worse that having your necklaces stuck to your sweat (ew). Flatforms are my go-to, rather than wedges because of the casual elevation they offer. And makeup? It’s all about locking in what we put on. Going with waterproof mascara, setting sprays and using a quick dry towel so we don’t break a sweat while grooming is absolute must.
Forever 21 Faux Leather Bucket Handbag : This bag has been the of the best purchases I’ve made this season. It’s a neutral color, with a very real look to the ‘leather’, despite it being faux. In the past, when I’ve bought bags in this bucket shape, I found that I needed more interior space. This bag opens up like a more rectangular tote, has the right amount of gold hardware, and can be worn as a crossbody. It comes in white as well!
Forever 21 Faux Suede Espadrille Wedges: Flatforms over wedges all day. And don’t get my wrong, I love wedges. They are sexy and definitely elongate the leg. But that’s just it. I don’t always want a ‘sexy’ high heel look. I want more of a summer, beachy, casual glam. When it’s super hot out, and I want a somewhat dressed up touch, I reach for these. The are great for comfort, height and versatility.
Impact Men’s AC DC High Voltage T-Shirt: I love a good band tee shirt. 99.9% of the time, I can honestly say I’ve never even listened to the band, but I have always gravitated to this kind of look. Truly, I think it’s because I’ve always gone so heavy on the hair and makeup, so when it came to my wardrobe, I dress it down a bit. To me, it’s important that the band tee does not look sloppy, nor too tight like a baby tee. I always want a soft cotton blend, with a slightly worn look. Amazon has been quite the hub for cute tees, and this is my second one from there. This is a men’s medium, and fits loosely.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Waterproof Mascara: Some people wear waterproof mascara all year around, but despite having horrendous allergies and watery eyes, I only really choose to wear this formula during the sweaty months of the year. I have already been an avid wearer or the Maybelline Angel Push-Up formula because I am OBSESSED with the brush shape. This mascara wand is magical y’all. It is tiny enough to fit into the corners of the lash line, allowing you to really coat each lash and build up the product. I also love how I can nestle the wand in a zig-zag motion along the lower lash line to really open up my eyes. For Summer, I’m sticking to the same mascara and just reaching for the waterproof version.
ACC PLANET Coin Necklace 18K Gold Plated Vintage Coin Pendant Gold Necklace for Women Girls: So how I got this necklace is actually by total accident. I was browsing on Amazon and instead of clicking ‘Add to Cart’ and contemplating the potential purchase, I accidentally clicked ‘Buy Now with 1-Click Purchase’. After a minor ‘Oh baby Jesus’ moment, I decided it wasn’t a big deal and if I hated it, I could always return it. So when it finally arrived, I actually ended up liking it. It is a bit yellow-ish, but I don’t mind because it pops against my skin. The coin style is really in right now, but this is kind of the ‘faux’ version because the coin doesn’t actually spin. Also, with inexpensive necklaces, I like to make sure that the chain doesn’t look too inexpensive. Overall I’ve been super pleased and often layer this with other necklaces.
Ardell Studio Effects Demi Wispies: Because my eye shape is very almond, it’s hard for me to find lashes that feel comfortable and weightless. False lashes can be slightly itchy, heavy and just plain annoying, so when I find a pair that really works for me, I have to share! I like high end lashes, but find myself only really wearing them on special occasions. For random date nights, dinners, IG videos and brunches, I reach for the KISS lashes and the Ardell lashes. My criteria for lashes are that the band has to be clear (those are the most flexible and comfortable). The lash cannot be shiny, because those look cheap and not natural. And lastly, I like pairs that have a little flair on the ends to open up my eye shape. These are inexpensive and if you are new to wearing lashes, I recommend practicing with these to get the hang of it!
Urban Decay Cosmetics Travel Size All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray: I recently did a mini-breakdown of setting sprays and how they are not all created equally. With the growing popularity of sprays, i.e. plethora of IG videos, I wanted to clear up how different each type was. I broke them down into ‘blenders’ and ‘sealers’. Blenders really help melt all the superficial powder particles together, to get rid of that ‘freshly powdered’ look. ‘Sealers’ are a more matte formula that lock in your makeup, similar to hairspray. Locking in makeup during a Texas summer heat wave is going to keep you glam and minimize the touchups you have to do. The only downside to the one I’ve been using by Urban Decay is that the spray function sometimes ‘spits’. The spitting can lead to an uneven application, so my recommendation is spray it right in front of your face, rather than directly onto your face, and then walk into like you would a fragrance.
Cinema Secrets – Makeup Brush Cleaner Travel Set: Raise your hand if you could afford to wash your brushes more often. I know I struggle about being diligent with brush cleaning, simply because I have so many and I rotate them often. While we are all planning for vacations and trying to not overpack, I think it’s important to also streamline the makeup/brush situation for our luggage. Keeping a few brushes, but cleaning them so you can use them interchangeably will help minimize the load. The brush cleaner that I reach for the most is this one by Cinema Secrets. I love that it cleans the brushes quickly and dries rapidly! It allows you to multi-task with your brushes without having to buy and pack more! Plus, frequent cleanings will keep down eye infections and breakouts.
Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick: I love a matte lip, but when it’s blistering hot out, the last thing I want is to slather on a dry lacquer that it going to make my lips look like day old croissants. This Smashbox liquid lipstick formula is unlike any I’ve tried on. It is still very much a liquid lipstick so you get the longevity from the wear time, but it it super comfortable so it doesn’t totally dry down and chip off. It also moves with your lip so you don’t get that awkward line where the product abruptly stops. I first found out about this because I was freelancing and I had a client tell me that they wanted to use their own lip product. I was happy to accommodate that, and offered to apply it for them. You guys. This formula glides so beautifully onto the lip. It’s creamy enough to blend out the edges of the lip line, but does matte down so it won’t move too much. This color range is also something to acknowledge. There’s such a great assortment of brights and nudes and the one I’ve been loving is ‘Stepping Out’.
Aquis – Original Hair TURBAN, Patented Perfect Hands-Free Microfiber Hair Drying, Dark Grey (10 x 27 Inches): So we’ve all seen a version of this towel somewhere. Whether it was an infomercial or in a random bin at CVS, if you’re anything like me, you probably thought it was gimmicky. My dilemma was that when I am already super hot from this summer heat, and then I go to wash my hair, the last thing that I want to do is reheat myself by using a scorching blow dryer. Sometimes, I feel like it takes away from how fresh I feel after the shower when I start to sweat. To eliminate this icky feeing and cut down on my blow dry time, I bit the bullet and bought a quick-dry hair towel. This specific towel caught my eye because it’s not just the fabric that is absorbent, it’s the shape of the towel that really makes all the difference. It’s shaped similar to a banana so that when you flip your head over to wrap it, all your hair is in contact with the towel. Wearing this for about 15 mins while I do my skincare helps cut my blow dry time in half.
