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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Moving Day

Hi All,

I've moved my website and blog to one convenient location!

www.blushingartistry.com/blog 

Please make the updates to your subscriptions!

xoxo. LP

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Men's Gifting Guide

As promised... 

According to my dear husband, Valentine's Day is the "accessory" holiday. Therefore, I have assembled, with his help, a Gifting Guide for the men in your life. 
Dan is incredibly difficult to shop for so, I feel for all of you ladies with a challenge! Poor guy is so picky I think I'll eventually stop trying. (feel bad for him.)

I've also become really big on DIY projects as of late, and came across this amazing list of crafty goodness from Brittany over at The House that Lars Built. This is the cutest blog! 

I do hope this list provides some insight for you all in plenty of time to avoid procrastination (yeah, right.). Happy Shopping or crafting.. whichever path you choose. 


Salvatore Ferragamo 'Acqua Essenziale' Eau de Toilette:  I really like this new fragrance. It's fresh and clean, manly, but not too musky or overpowering. Thumbs up, Salvatore. 


Harry's - "The Winston" Shave Set A cute little alternative shaving company you can set up an auto replenish for your man, but this set comes with 3 blades and a tube of shaving cream. 

This sweet flask. From J Crew. How fun. I just love clever things. 

Whiskey Stones. Really NEAT, cooling stones to add to cocktails that don't melt or waterdown your man's adult beverage. Genius. 

This dark and mysterious black and gold Michael Kors watch. Shh!! Don't tell Dan, it doesn't have a date (a pet peeve of his...) whatever it's a hot watch.

Dan doesn't like these cuff links, but I think they are super cute and creative. Hopefully you do too, if not sorry not sorry.  


Good luck ladies! 

xoxo. LP


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Valentine's Day Favorites

Well, January has come and gone. Dude. Valentine's Day is right around the corner! How did the year get so old already? 

In honor of Cupid and his rapidly approaching arrows, I've put together a list of my favorite little loves for this Valentine's Day  fit for any soireé you may find yourself swept off to. Pinks and Reds for life y'all! but mostly pinks.. 



Essie Nail Polish in Pink Glove Service - This is such a cute baby doll bubblegum pink color for nails. So girly and fun! 

Stila Lip & Cheek Stain in Yumberry Crush- so super sheer that you can't mess this up! Gorgeous! 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
 ​​ in Roman Holiday,  what a perfect pink!  These lip crayons are fantastic as well. Please bring back Jungle Red! 

Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss in Popsicle - This might be the only gloss one every needs. No lie. 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette: Duh. This beauty has any and every shade of flattering pink (I say flattering because no one wants to look like they have an eye infection, let's be honest.) and rose gold shadows a girl could need. Who needs a valentine? 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface - If you haven't yet tried Tarte cosmetics I urge you to! They are a high performance natural brand of cosmetics the pigments and wearability of this line is phenomenal! 

Chanel Chance eau Tendre fragrance - The perfect blend of sweet, crisp and floral <3 smells like love is in the air. 

So apparently the only red that made the cut was MAC's Ruby Woo lip color ...she is the perfect matte red for any occasion really, but v-day for sure.  Can't go wrong here either! 

If I missed any Valentine's must-haves please let me know in the comments! 

xoxo. LP


Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Small Business Struggle

I saw this on Pinterest today. [you should probably follow my board] 

There is something about reading a little piece of the internet that hits home..it kind of makes your day. 

I posted to facebook and instagram about my desire to grow my small makeup artistry venture into a more sustainable business.  I suffer the plight of a creative brain stuck in a cube office.. not sustainable. 
I am so grateful to have the support of friends and family while trying to branch out and set down roots for my cosmetics styling business. It's scary taking a journey out in the world alone. I am also the most impatient person in the world and want all this to happen overnight. I know it will be worth the wait and struggle to follow my passion and do something that I truly love everyday. 
With this blog, my business site, and hopefully a YouTube channel soon I hope to spread the word and take the wedding world by storm! 

Sharing is caring, I appreciate your referrals more than you know. 

On a swell note: 2014 is off to a good start and my calendar is starting to fill! 
Stay tuned for more pretty posts soon to come. 

xoxo. LP

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Brown Smokey Eye

Beauties,

I am working on acquiring some equipment to start filming tutorials, but until that time my sad photos will have to suffice.
Today is a simple brown smokey eye, a look coveted by many. Don't be scared.

First we will start with basic terminology. Please see image for the regions of the eye that will be discussed during this tutorial:
The lid (see #1) refers to the area of your eye from corner tear duct to opposite corner tear duct. The crease (see #2) refers to the area right above this that often disappears when you open your eyes. The brow bone (see #4) is the area of skin covering the bone directly under the eyebrows. You should familiarize yourself with these areas since they will be referenced in the future.

1. Apply an eyeshadow primer all over the eye. This means apply the product from lash line to brow bone.  I have exceptionally oily eyelids so I always use Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer, the clear one, all over before I use one that has a skin tone shade over top.  I've been using Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat a lot lately, but this changes a lot.
If you don't apply a shadow primer do not proceed to the next step. It's over. Dramatic, but seriously. 


2. Apply a medium brown shimmer shadow to the lid. I used Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette using a Sigma E55 shader brush.

3. Apply a matte warm brown eye shadow through the crease. I used smashbox eyeshadow in nude which is discontinued, you can try MAC Soft Brown or Makeup Geek Beaches & Cream using a fluffy black haired blending brush. I used a Sigma E40 Blending Brush which is a better, cheaper version of the MAC 224. 

4. Apply a slightly darker warm brown eye shadow in the outer corner through the crease. I used MAC Brown Down using a MAC 217

5. Using a small bullet brush (I used Laura Mercier's Eye Crease Brush) apply either a matte black or super dark brown eye shadow in the outer most corner of your eye lid. Pack the color on carefully so it's nice and dark. I used blackout from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Then using the same brush you used in step 4 blend out the color so there are no harsh lines. 

6. Apply a matte white or cream color eye shadow along the brow bone. I used Bobbi Brown Ivory 

7. Apply eyeliner on the top lashline. I used Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner in blackest black using a Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush. 

8. Under the eye, lined using an angle brush the color used in the outer corner, I used  out with the same warm brown color I used in the crease to give a soft but still defined look of lining. 

9. Finish the look with mascara, obviously. I used Chanel Le Volume in black. 

I realize this is slightly involved, but have faith! With the right tools you can totally master this look no problem. Buy the brushes!! You won't be sorry. Then I'll come over and show you how to use them and we can drink wine together. Yay! 

xoxo. LP

Monday, January 27, 2014

The 2014 Grammy's Makeup Hits

There was glitz and glam all over the red carpet last night for the 2014 Grammy's. Shout out to little Lourde for winning best song of the year. <3

These are my top makeup hits from yesterday's Grammy event.  

4. Sarah Hyland (a.k.a. Haley Dunphy from ABC's Modern Family) She is stunning! Swoon over that red lip and those rosy cheeks (for this pop of color on the apple of your cheeks try Chanel's new cream blushes in Affinite.) She looks classy without being overly made up. I love her bright undereys and the soft smudgey eyeliner on her lower lashes plus her strong, but not over-done brows.  


3. Let's discuss Katy Perry's fresh look with that amazing pink lip. Love! I would love to see a little more blush on those cheeks, but I think she looks absolutely gorgeous. For a pink lip like this try Laura Mercier creme lip color in pink label. 

2. Next up, almighty Beyonce. Look at her rocking that dark lip! I looove the smokey shimmery lid (try Makeup Geek eye shadow in Moondust). I would like her eyebrows to be filled in, but hat's my brow obsession speaking. I like how it adds kind of a natural flare to it. 

1. Zendaya Coleman: I love everything about this look. Her brows!!!  The smoldering smokey eye. Highlight + Contour, and that nude lip. On point!! I do not love her hair styling, but the makeup..mmhmm. 
For her sculpted cheek bones try Anastasia Beverly Hills' contour kit. For that hot lip try E.L.F studio matte lip color in Praline
What were your favorites? 

xoxo. LP

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Top 10 Web Favorites for the Week

In order to spice things up, I thought I would share with you what I have found fantastic this week on the internet. 

10. A Beautiful Mess - 10 Statement Wall Ideas




I have been on a major design kick lately. This desire, however is significantly stifled by a severe budget shortage. Womp. Nevertheless, a girl and dream..and pin her way to a home reno. Can I get an Amen? 












9. These delicious chocolate peanut butter custard cups.




I made these  for a dinner party the husby and I went to last night. They were bomb. I strongly suggest you make them for yourself..and 5 other people. Or just eat them all yourself. I deem that totally acceptable. 











8. Lauren Conrad's amazing wedding planning. 




Can we first discuss these gold polka dot envelope liners? Swoon. Since I don't think I will ever get over my wedding obsession I still continue to pin wedding stuff. You can see my problem here and here. I think LC is the cutest and have no doubt that her wedding will be the same. I want to be there. 











7. This amazing Michael Kors timepiece. 




I now have a hopeless addiction to watches, thanks to my husband who also has this same disease. I am drawn to this hot pink beauty and I must add her to my collection. See #10 above budget shortage. boo.











6. Anastasia Beverly Hills' new dipbrow pomade. 


This stuff is waterproof!!!! Enough said. I must try it and when I do I'm sure it will be love. 















5. The Spring collection from Stella & Dot


My favorite piece is the Amelie Sparkle Bracelet in Peach. There are so many gorgeous pieces to this new collection. I also love the double clutch in citrine, here














4. My sweet friend Anjuli just relaunched her blog project. 

The design of this site is stunning and Anjuli truly has a gift for writing. She is inspiring and writes with a true openness. I invite you to share in her words. 



3. This beautiful kitchen appliance from William's Sonoma.  




There are no words. 
















2. Bekah's new blog. 



I'm not sure she has posted anything yet, but do yourself a favor and subscribe now in anticipation of greatness. You won't be sorry. She's the bee's knees. 






1. The amazing Kristy Lynn Adams



If you are in need of a wedding photographer in the North Carolina area you simply must book her. Now. Clock's ticking. 












I hope you've enjoyed this week's web picks. 

xoxo. LP

Friday, January 24, 2014

Blushing Giveaway

In honor of my Instagram page hitting 300 followers (and let's be honest, the weekend) I've decided to do a weekend GIVEAWAY! 

Since you all know I'm obsessed with it, I'll be giving away one (1) Smashbox Full Exposure Palette to one (1) lucky winner. 


Here's how to enter: 
1. Follow my page Instagram page @blushing_artistry 

2. Repost the giveaway image using the hashtag #blushinggiveaway 

Feel free to repost as many times as you like. No limit on entries. 
If your page is private please leave a comment so I know you've entered. 

A winner will be chosen on Monday January 27, 2014. 

Good luck babes! 

xoxo. LP

Vendor Love: Burlap and Bordeaux

Here's a little Vendor Love: Be sure to check out our friends,Burlap & Bordeaux! With valentine's day coming up they have the CUTEST arrangements of creative gifts! 


Here's a little about them from the Owner, Brooke. 
"About a year ago my cousin and I sought out to find the best products in local artisans throughout California. We scoured farmers markets, from Ventura, to Ojai, to Santa Barbara. Everything that goes into our baskets has a story. Here are just a few examples:
-our chocolate comes from a a store called Trufflehounds in Ventura. It's owned by a woman named Claudia who personally develops distinct and interesting flavors, & everything is made in house.
-our honey comes from a woman named Sandy in Lompoc California. She and her husband have had their bee farm for years, but what makes their story unique is their love for their bees. She literally cares for them as family. All honey is raw, organic, and comes from her wild flowers & sage gardens. 
-our salami comes from a company in Paso Robles. All organic, preservative free, nitrate free.
-our cheese comes from a farm in Petaluma, CA and is all organic. Delicious, we discovered them at a farmers market.
-our baked goods come from a bakery in Ojai, CA where everything is made from the highest quality ingredients. Even the granola is made fresh!
-our tea, personally selected in LA, all organic
-our pistachios, organic from a farm in Santa Barbara.
-our flowers, we personally go to the grower and hand pick which flowers we are going to use.

These are just a few, we have a personal relationship with every vendor. The stories are incredible, we have definitely found a calling in the most beautiful people we could have ever imagined to work with. When we put our baskets or floral designs together, each is made uniquely with love. Sounds cliche, but it's true. Every basket is custom. Please visit our website, there are lots of photos as well as more stories about our vendors & products."

Check them out on their website and instagram also! 

xoxo. LP

Thursday, January 23, 2014

In My Bag: An exposé

So it's been what, 4 days? That means we know each other well enough for you all to start rifling though my things, right? Yes. Congratulations. 

It's time for a journey into my cosmetic bag. Yikes. 
Bag dump. 

Please note that both the bag and the contents within is constantly changing. I can never guarantee any color or product will recur. Except for my powder. I was actually surprised that there wasn't more crap in here. Usually there are like some old fortunes, gum wrappers, and at least one hundred bobby pins. Maybe I subconsciously knew I would be exposing the most intimate details of my cosmetics bag to the interwebs so I lived cleanly. 

Cleaned it up. 

One thing for sure is that I have too many lip products. Those who know me know I rarely wear anything on my lips.. this is amusing. 

I'll start with the copious amount of lip items. On the left we have MAC prolongwear lipglass in boundlessly beige. If you don't have any of these, you should. They are ridiculously long wearing and come in lots of pretty shades. I'm boring so I like beige. As you'll see as we continue through this list. Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Blondie Pink - the best natural pink, Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Color in Perle, Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Retro Pink, Burt's Bee's Honey Lip Balm, Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex, Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss. Clearly, I have a problem. 

Moving up top we have Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener in light bisque an awesome sheer brightening concealer that is super easy to use on the go. Anastasia tinted brow gel in espresso  not sure why that's in there without a brow pencil..coming back down Laura Mercier Undercover pot in #1 this thing has under eye and face concealer in one little pot with a convenient supply of loose translucent powder underneath. Perfect little travel companion. Bobbi Brown Blush in pale pink- duh and Laura Mercier pressed foundation powder in #3.
Oh and teeny Bobbi concealer blending brush, lip brush and a baby Kiehls's creme de corps and a mini MAC fix+ 

This has been an exposé of my (full of Bobbi Brown) cosmetic bag. I felt like I would bore you if I went into more detail. Let me know if you have specific questions on any of these items and I'll be happy to supply you with my wealth of knowledge. 

xoxo. LP

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

dry. dry. dry. - winter hydration guide + products

Holy crap it's dry. my face, my body, my hair! tight. static. horrible. 

Let's hydrate. I've already lectured you about hydrating your face and under eye area. If you missed it you can check it out here

This post was inspired by our horribly dry conditions and by a post from the lovelies over at The Beauty Department. They posted this amazing piece about hydrating your skin before you shower to arm yourself against the harsh hot water! This blew my mind so of course I had to try it. 

Their advice: 
1. Apply a generous amount 
2. Warm up with your hands and 
3. Apply all over avoiding the face. 

Then simply shower like normal! What a concept. They used body oil, but I tried it using coconut oil. So basically it was AMAZING. My skin was so soft and happy. No more scaly legs. Imagine that. 
Don't forget to moisturize within the first 3 minutes after getting out of the shower/bath. The pores on your skin are still open and will absorb the most product within that time. Try L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream
Don't forget about lips and nails! Anyone normal is obsessed with the EOS balls.. did you know that E.O.S stands for evolution of smooth?? Me either.. I think I have had every flavor and lost every flavor... 
Deborah Lippmann's cuticle oil makes me feel like I just stepped out of the salon. My cuticles are ragged this time of year and need some comforting. 
My hair has been crazy dry lately too. I just tried Aveda damage remedy leave-in product from a sample and I just might have to splurge for it. It made my hair super soft. I have also been noticing that my hair wasn't staying straight and was frizzing really easily. I asked my darling hair magician if there was anything I could do. She said to make sure I was applying enough product. Now I've always been afraid of adding too much thinking it would make my hair look greasy. She said to apply the product to my hair when wet, right after drying, and again after straightening. Serum times three and I've noticed a huuge difference with my hair staying straight and frizz free. I use It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum
1. Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 2. L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream 3. EOS Lip Balm 4. Deborah Lippman Cuticle Oil 4. IT's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum 6. Aveda Damage Remedy Leave-In Treatment

I'd love to know your tricks on staying hydrated during the winter. Comment people! I hope I'm not blogging to myself. 

xoxo. LP

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

My Makeup Rut - a cosmo confessional

Confession. I'm in a makeup rut with no plans on getting out.
I wake up at 5:30..hit snooze a few times, and crawl out of bed at 5:45 each morning in order to beat nightmare traffic and get into my freezing cold office by 7:15am. Ew. I have to admit that I've been putting my face on the bench in exchange for a couple more minutes of zzz's.

That being said, here are my 5 uber lazy it'stooearlytoeventhink favorite products that can help you look alive-ish even in a rut....at 5:45am.
{from left to right: chanel le volume mascara, laura mercier pressed mineral powder, bobbi brown pale pink blush, stila 10 in 1, chanel eclat lumiere concealer}

Stila 10 in 1 BB cream - Can't live without this. Ever. I use it mostly as a primer since I need a little more coverage, but if you're lucky enough to have pretty skin, you could definitely get away with this alone.

Laura Mercier pressed mineral powder - I use the color tender rose. Greatest powder of my life, (the loose is amazing too). Amazing coverage and fabulous oil control. Lasts all day.

Chanel eclat lumiere concelear- Pop a little of this under your eyes and you're good to go. *I live by Bobbi Brown's corrector and concealer, but sometimes a girl's gotta cut corners*

Bobbi Brown pale pink blush - Blush gives you life. Period. Someone once commented on a photo of my dear friend, Kristy Adams stating, "Your excessive use of blush scares me." I live by these words.

Chanel Le Volume Mascara - Worth every single cent. This mascara makes your lash line so thick that you'll forget you didn't have time to put eyeliner on.

Now go get some coffee.

xoxo. LP

Monday, January 20, 2014

Dark and Mysterious - a lip tutorial

Hello darlings,

This evening I've had a special request to do a tutorial on how to wear  dark lip color.
Despite it being 81 degrees in San Diego today it is still winter thus, I say wear more dark lips!!
Dark lips can be a challenge! Don't think you can pull it off? Nonsense, I believe in you!

Obstacles to overcome:
-You think it looks bad. This is likely because you simply aren't used to seeing yourself in a darker lip color. You look great, own it!
-Let's face it, dark lips can get messy! You MUST use a lipliner. No exceptions.
-Good lip prep is a necessity. Exfoliate and hydrate before you pop that color on.

Let's go over the steps to own that dark lip.

1. Prep. Exfoliate: Get rid of dead skin on the lips that can cause texture and make the lip color look uneven. Scrub with a washcloth or an amazing lip scrub like Lush's Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Hydrate: Now that your smackers are baby smooth make sure you give them what they're craving: Moisture! Try Bobbi Brown's Lip Balm to soften them up to make sure your lip color glides on like butta'.

2. Secure. Like I said before, dark lips can get messy! To make sure your color stays in the lines I like to apply a face powder all over the area just surrounding the lips. This makes sure any oil gets wicked away and won't cause the color to bleed. Next apply your lip liner. For this dark of color, I personally like to use a shade that is a teeeeny bit darker for added drama. If that freaks you out, by all means use one that matches closer. Note: It doesn't have to be perfect on the inside just try to line as sharply as you can near the cupid's bow and around the edges. You can always clean it up with some remover if you make a mistake. I used MAC's nightmoth for this look.

3. Perfect. Now apply your color in the lines. I applied right out of the tube for this look, but feel free to use a lip brush for added precision. One applied rub your lips together to blend the color and you can go back with your lipliner to smooth out any areas that need perfecting. I used MAC's Diva. If this is too matte for you you can always add a lip gloss over the top. **Make sure you carry your color with you since you will without a doubt need a touch up.

Now that you have mastered the darkness, you may be stuck when it comes to what you are "allowed" to pair with it. My vote is to keep it simple. If you're wearing a dark lip, they should be the focus of your face. Tone down the eyes and cheeks with neutrals and let the lips run the show.


Products I used:
Face:
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Sand
Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque
Bobbi Brown Concealer in Cool Sand
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Power 

Contour: Kevin Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium  
Bobbi Brown Blush in Tawny
Highlight: MAC Belightful (tragically discontinued)

Eyes:
MAC Soft Ochre Prolongwear Paint Pot
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette
Chanel Le Volume mascara

Woo. Sorry that was l o n g.

I'd love to hear any feed back from you and will happily take any questions you have!

until next time.

xoxo. LP

Friday, January 17, 2014

Night & Day



Hi Beauties, 

Starting out this whole blog thing I'm going to keep it sweet & simple with a double product recommendation. Skin care reviews can be hard since it takes time to see results of products past the initial texture and smells. Today, I bring you two little numbers that are tried and true and that I personally, cannot live without. 

Daytime hydration: Try Clarins Bright Plus HPBrightening Hydrating Day Lotion SPF 20  $62
This SPF 20 moisturizing lotion evens and brightens dull skin. Special ingredients help to fade dark spots and even out the skin tone too! I like this moisturizer because it drys down to a soft matte without leaving the skin feeling greasy. It wears great under makeup and provides sun protection. 

For the night: Try Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Intense Night Cream. $62 
This concentrated night cream boosts the skin's ability to recharge and rehydrate during its nightly repair process, plumping fine lines and improving tone and texture. Skin looks and feels stronger and healthier. Secretly, I sometimes wear this during the day.. shhh! I recently discovered that my skin gets dehydrated really easily which in turn makes me incredibly oily. I'll wear this guy day and night in those cases and my skin is back to looking pretty great in no time. 

Sorry that these products are not entirely budget friendly. If it's any consolation, you need a very small amount of each so you shouldn't be needing a new one for at least 6-8 months.  Think of your skin as your #1 accessory, consider how much you spent on new shoes this month... this is your face! 

xoxo. LP