Beauty DIY Tips!

Love this video that gives you quick Beauty Do It Yourself tips that every gal needs to know! Not only does it save you money but time as well! Check it out now!

your best sunscrean

We all love a great tans ladies but we most defiantly do not welcome the burns, pain, and peeling that we often battle to get the great tan.  Much worse than a harsh sunburn are the wrinkles that inevitably follow years down the road.  Do we really need to tell you to use sunscreen?  We don't want to see you ladies putting on that oil with a SPF of 7.  Friends don't let friends burn and prematurely wrinkle.

Best Overall

This sunscreen get raves from both consumers and experts.  They love that it feels lightweight and it contains antioxidants which can help prevent sun damage.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch $8.92 at Walmart

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin but don't want to fork over the big bucks (which is often the case), turn to baby formulas which are both strong and lack the irritating ingredients that adult formulas often contain.  This one by California Baby is fragrance and chemical free.  Its goes on smooth and is waterproof as well.

 California Baby No Fragrance Lotion $19.99 at California Baby

Acne Prone

Gels are great for those who tend to break out because they aren't heavy.  This sunscreen by Bull Frog is not only light but stays put because it was designed for surfers.

Bull Frog Surfer Formula Gel Sunblock $10.50 at Amazon

Sweat-Proof

This sunscreen "goes on like a lotion and dries like a powder" which allows you to still have good grip when you are playing volleyball on the beach (or flipping through magazines).  It also has complete UVA and UVB protection.

Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen $10.99 at Walgreens

Fast Application

Spray on formulas are great for reapplication but make sure you don't miss any spots!  You still need to rub this in.  This Coppertone is waterproof and has a twist and lock top so it doesn't accidentally fire off in your beach bag.

Coppertone Continuous Sport Spray $7.99 at Drugstore.com

 Heavy Duty

This heavy duty sunblock has a SPF of 90!  Standard rub-on lotions are better than spray-ons when you are looking for thorough coverage.

 Coppertone Ultraguard Broad Spectrum $8.99 at Drugstore.com

Remember these general tips when it comes to your sunscreen:

1.)  Waterproof doesn't mean that it doesn't need to be reapplied.  Put on another layer every 2 hours or when you exit the pool or ocean.

2.)  Apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes prior to getting out in the sun.  It allows it time to absorb before you start to sweat it off.  In fact, we apply ours in the buff to make sure we don't miss any spots along our bathing suit lines.

3.)  EVERYONE needs sunscreen ALWAYS!  That means sunny or cloudy, fair or dark skin, or whether or not you have a "base tan".  No exceptions!

topshop makeup line

We love Topshop for their affordable and trendy clothes.  Anyone who combines affordability with our fashion favorites, we are definitely fans of!  They have become a celeb favorite too thanks to the likes of big names like Kate Moss.

(We love you Kate!)

Expanding into makeup now, Topshop has given us an affordable and cool line that has embraced the latest trends.  Neon has not always been a favorite of ours, but so many others really know how to rock it...and this is the place for the hottest neon colors for your eyes!

Amazon Shadow in Sunstar $16.00

Amazon Crayon in Sunshower $14.00

For the less brave, they have some great colors for an everyday look too.

Amazon Shadow in Moon Dust $16.00

Eyeshadow Duo in Rocky Road $12.00

And don't forget those lips!

Amazon Lip and Cheek Tint in Berry $12.00

Polish in Melba $12.00

Have you tried any of these products?  We want to hear from you!

LOST!

So we have to admit that we love to get LOST every week with Matthew Fox.  Hello Jack!  In addition to our love of all things fashion, we also love the crazy and confusing ABC hit Lost (did we mention its starring Matthew Fox?).  With only two episodes left in the series, our minds have been preoccupied with all things Lost.  Which made us think...if we were stranded on an island what would we miss the most (besides our kiddos and hubby of course!). Creature comforts!

Cool Shades: Out of the several pairs we own, we love a comfortable and light pair that looks great with almost everything!

Ray-Ban Active Lifestyle $119.99

Make-up Must Have:  Brows shape the face and is the #1 mistake that many women make (over tweeze, under tweeze etc...). That is why we take care of ours and make sure they look good.  Enter our favorite quick brow filler...

Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper $19.00

Skin Care Must:  We have shared with you before how important it it to take care of your skin and we practice what we preach!  Moisturizing and protecting the face is a daily addiction for us both!

Oil of Olay Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 $7.69

Comfies: When we are at home relaxing we love to be comfy and cute!  No rolled up sweats and over sized t-shirts here.  Instead we raid the PINK line at Victoria's Secret.

MVP Yoga Pant $32.50

Favorite Tee $16.00

Smellin' Great:  We are girls after all and as much as wish we could pull a Matthew McConaughey and go au naturel we still like a great parfum (and deodorant for that matter!)

Clean Clean parfum $38

What fashion/beauty creature comforts would you miss? Leave a comment and let us know!

cool makeup find

We are always in search for ways to make our life easier aren't we? GPS, DVR, NOOK, IPOD, flat iron's, microwaves...and on and on and on. We are not sure about you guys, but sometimes our beauty routine is time consuming and lets face it, some days we would rather pull a "Hollywood starlet" and hide behind an obnoxiously large pair of sunglasses.

Exhibit A

Unfortunately wearing shades inside just ain't happening in our every day lives. Why not embrace a smart and ingenious makeup invention? We were so excited to come across these smart and efficient makeup pencils we couldn't wait to try them...one by Avon and one  by Cover Girl which equals AFFORDABLE! Yippee!!

This pencil pretty much covers your whole face! One side for lips and cheeks the other side for your eyes. It's small enough to throw in your bag and whip out for a mid-day refresher.

Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional-Multi Pencil $8.00

We have all seen and heard how great a smoky eye can look but we all don't end up with this result...

 Enter our next great find! A pencil that blends the essential colors for this look that makes it fast and easy! You can go for a dark evening look or a lighter day one with so many colors to choose from.

Smoky Shadow Blast $8.00

Let us know what you think of these products, we want to hear from you too!

Protect that skin honey!

As we get closer and closer to that inevitable 3-0 so many things are becoming apparent.  The hips don't lie and they are screaming "we need exercise!"  We are now having to protect our skin from wrinkles and brown spots, all while avoiding the "botox-ed real housewives face".  With that gorgeous Georgia sun beaming lately we have been doing our research on how to protect our face.  We shared our pick for our favorite summer hats and now here is some advice on what to use for your skin for both every day and on the beach!

Moisturizer with SPF:  If this is not already a part of your makeup regimen then add it immediately! Anywhere from SPF 15 to 30. Here are some we have tried and loved.

Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF 30 for $45.00

Neutrogena Oil-Fee Moisturizer with SPF 15 $8.94

Sun Screen:  For that extra protection on pool and beach days and don't forget to re-apply every few hours and after taking a swim.

Aveeno Active Natural for Face SPF 70 $8.24

Kiehl's UV Protective Suncare Sunscreen Cream $33.00

Gotta Wear Shades:  Help prevent wrinkles... STOP THE SQUINTING! Check out what we recommended for the best shape for your face.
 

What are you favorites? Let us know what products work for you!

Beauty Questions Answered!

Just like all of us busy ladies, we are always in need of some great beauty advice!  We have done some research for you and came up with some solutions and answers for your most common beauty mishaps and questions:

Should I use the same name brand shampoo and conditioner?

Nope!  Just make sure you stick to similar formulated ones.  For example, if you have a moisturizing shampoo, match that with a conditioner that focuses on adding moisture to your hair as well.

I wear makeup daily.   Should I worry about giving my skin a breather?

If you are not having any issues with your skin (breakouts, rashes etc...) then you are fine, no break needed.  Here is the key: wash your face every night to avoid most breakout issues.

I prefer body wash but want to make sure I am clean AND my skin is soft, is this possible?

Yes!  A Jilly favorite is Olay 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash.  Its only $5.99 and leaves the skin oh so soft!  Plus its not a heavy perfume-like scent.  It is available at local drugstores.

I have sensitive teeth and need a whitening boost but can't afford it. I have tried the Crest strips and they hurt my teeth, suggestions?

We have found the best solution.  Crest has come out with a special sensitive version.  Its great!  No harm no foul and a beautiful white smile is the end result!  If you find you still have sensitivity, try using a mouthwash that has fluoride, which can help reduce sensitivity.  A toothpaste like Sensodine can help as well.

I have combination skin and need a moisturizer that can help my dry areas but not saturate the oily areas. Help!

A gel cream is what most dermatologists recommend. It moisturizers in the places that are needed.  Nivea has an affordable one for less than $20!

Which goes on first, concealer or foundation?

For every day use, foundation goes on FIRST then concealer.  If you are covering up a blemish then reverse that order.  However, if you are covering up dark circles use concealer only.  No foundation.

Any tips on stretching out your shampoos (without your hair looking oily and smelling gross)?

Try taking a makeup brush and dusting baby powder on the roots to prevent the oil build up.  Make sure not to go to heavy so as not to leave a white residue. Spray your favorite perfume lightly through the strands of your hair.

How can I prevent the frizzy look after I dry and straighten my hair?

There are several products out there that can help with this.  Here's a tip: spray some hair spray in your brush and brush through it towards the end of your blow dry.  Go from root to end.  This will prevent a stiff look but will take care of the fly-aways too.

What are your beauty questions? Comment or click on "Contact Us" and let us know!  We will help!

lace dress...love it or hate it?

Channel your inner Madonna because we are still loving the lace dress look! Of course we are referring to "Like the Virgin" era and since that is our time (totally giving away our age) we still love Ms. M's unique style that has been modernized. Look at Sarah Jessica's take on a pink lace dress:

And Eva Mendes's take on a white lace dress:

Loving how she paired it with a white boyfriend blazer! We love to see things paired together that are unexpected. Try a lace dress with a blazer or even a leather jacket to give it a little more edge (an investment piece we totally recommend!). Here are some great finds we have found in the lace dress department:

TFNC Lace Scoop Back Dress $68.38 available at Asos.

Foley + Corinna Lace Dress $350 available at ShopBop.

Madeline Lace Dress by Yuki available at TopShop.

Sweet Heart Lace Dress $22.80 available at Forever 21.

Tips and Advice: 

- Opt for the short lace dress look. Its not homecoming court time!

- Make sure it is lined properly, if not, wear a camisole or slip underneath. You don't want to look like your are wearing a nightie.

 - Have fun with your choice of shoes:  peep toe booties, strappy platform sandals, a heel with  studs... change it up! A heavier shoe look looks great when paired with a form fitting dress.

to wear false eyelashes or not to wear...

Every woman wants that beautiful eyelash look that is natural, long, and full. Those three don't seem to go together...however they can! When you think false eye lashes you may be scared to try it in fear of this being the result...

Did we scare you?  This picture even scares us!  We will not be deterred...we found a great product and  how-to video that shows you how to "Do-it Yourself" and still have great results!  We recommend using a cluster lash like Xtended Beauty available at Target.

***Sonia Kashuk's Cluster Lash available at Target, is the product used in the video however it is limited in stock so we tried Xtended Beauty mentioned above and LOVED it.***

how to stretch your hair appointments

Listen, times are tough.  That is what everyone is saying: the news, the president our husbands...  In fact if we hear the word recession or worse "recessionista", one more time we may scream! At the end of the day we are women who still have to maintain.  Lets face it, the hair is an important one and an expensive one at that.  Since Jilly has been coloring hers so long that her natural color is pretty much a mystery, it is important to continue the process! So we did the research for you to find out what can help to extend the time between hair appointments:

1. 
   
   Wash your hair every other day (or every 2 if your hair can handle it) with a color enhancing shampoo. 

Available for $6.49 at www.drugstore.com

2. Condition your hair well.  Color tends to fade faster on damaged hair and the color treating process itself does a number on your tresses. Try to give yourself 24-48 hours before washing after your hair has been treated.

3. Increase the amount of liquid intake 24-48 hours after your color treatment to help keep your roots moisturize and prevent strands from drying out. Damaged, dry hair does not hold color well.

4. Have a clear color glaze or gloss applied. This is a process that helps seal the newly colored hair and stretch its life. Ask your hair dresser if they do these at their salon.  It is not time consuming and could be worth it!

5. Use color extending products that can be mixed with your conditioner that help enhance the color like Ken Paves Healthy Hair-Boost Up Color Drops.

Available for $39.95

6. Flat iron your hair a few days after you have it colored. This will smooth the hair cuticle and lock in the color.

7. Try using a cooler setting on your hair dryer.  This can be time consuming but will also lessen the damage on your hair by heat styling (and build your biceps!).  Many hair dryers offer a "Cool" setting that you can switch to at the end of your blow dry which will also help de-frizz your hair and set your style.

Solia 1875W Thermal Ionic Cermaic Hair Dryer $79.99 www.folica.com

What did we miss? Comment and let us know!

the perfect home pedicure

Ok troops, today we are tackling our feet!  We all love a good pedicure but with the economy in the toilet for who knows how long, we are all making cut-backs and unfortunately the weekly trips to the nail salon are O-V-E-R.  Fear not!  We bring you the perfect do it yourself home pedicure.

With an awful cold coming on strong and arctic whether outside, I was feeling like crud and decided that I needed a good pick-me-up.  Armed with my coupon (click here for yours), I headed to my local Ulta to gather my supplies.

The supplies

Step 1:  Remove Polish:  An alcohol and acetone free remover is less harsh on your nails but won't work as well as the good 'ol tough stuff.  Hold the cotton ball soaked in remover on your nail for a few seconds for easiest removal.  Insider Tip - Try rubbing whitening toothpaste on your nail that has been stained by dark polish.

Step 2:  Cut and File Nails:  Cut nails straight across and file in one direction.  File the edges of nails so that they have slightly rounded corners.

Don't worry-I'm not going to show pictures of my feet.  You would never come back here again.

Step 3:  Soak:  Fill a tub (I got mine at the dollar store...you can use your bathtub in a pinch) with warm water.  Add in whatever you prefer: essential oils, epson salt, aromatherapy soaks, etc.  I used epson just beause that's what I had lying around the house.  Soak for 10 minutes or longer if your feet are extra scaly.  Insider Tip - add in 1/4-1/2 cup of milk.  The lactic acid in the milk breaks up dead skin.

Step 4:  Cuticles:  Trimming my cuticles makes me nervous as I once had a bad experience at a nail salon that involved scissors, some kind of healing cream, burning and an excessive amount of blood. Therefore I stick to the much safer cuticle push-back.  Use an orangewood stick to gently do this.

Step 5:  Scrub, Scrub, and Scrub Some More:  Use whatever you like for this: foot file, foot scrub or pumice stone.  I picked up this foot file at Ulta and it worked great.  Remember the motto "smooth, don't remove". Getting so much skin off that you are reaching live skin is not a good thing.  Let's chant together, "smooth, don't remove, smooth, don't remove..."

Step 6:  Moisturize: Use a good, thick foot cream.  Mine is from Bath and Bodyworks that I got years ago...that shows how often I do an at home pedicure.  I should probably consider getting new foot cream.  Does that kind of thing go bad?  I digress.  You can use cuticle oil if your cuticles are super dry and you wanna be salon-fancy.  I just rubbed some extra cream into them. *This is where I really start missing someone else doing this for me.  The leg and foot massage?  Heaven.

Pardon the bite marks-my dog has a lotion fetish.

Step 7:  Polish:  To prep, use your nail polish remover again to wipe away oils and excess lotion.  Apply your base coat using 3 strokes:  one down the middle and one on each side.  Don't paint your cuticle.  Let the base coat set for a couple of minues, then apply two coats of your prefered color using the same 3 stroke technique.  Rap a cotton-soaked pad around the orangewood stick and use that to clean up any polish errors.  I use this a lot...especially when using a dark polish.  Apply a clear top coat and let dry for 30-45 minutes.  Done!

new hairstyles for spring

We are both constantly changing our hair...short, long, light, dark, bangs, no bangs, curly straight...get the picture? You name it we have tried it! Back in the day we were the girls that owned a crimper (some of you youngins may not even know what that is...sigh).  We will be documenting Jilly's new 'do coming up, trying to make a change while keeping your length can be hard and a little too subtle so we are going to try and it see what happens. You guys will be the judge!

Before we get that done, there have been many hairstyles to consider...through our research we have stumbled across the hottest styles for the spring...what still is hot and what's new!

Braid Away: This style is still hear to stay but now with a twist, we are loving the undone braid look. It looks effortless and modern! Here are some instructions:

How to Get it Right

1. No need for a blowout; just apply a bit of texturizer to the bottom third of dry hair for nongreasy piecey-ness. A good one to try: Pantene Pro-V Texture Spray Wax ($6.50, at drugstores). 2. Make a braid (or two!), securing with a clear elastic two inches from the ends. 3. Now gently tug around the crown and back of your head to get the messiness going, instructs celebrity hairstylist Hallie Bowman. To loosen the braid up even more, stick your fingers or the handle of a comb in and wiggle a bit. Got layers? Let ‘em hang out

(Compliments of Glamour.com)

Long and Wavy: Its here to stay it seems! The more natural the wave looks the better!

Do it Yourself:

Before bedtime, mist just-washed, damp hair with a leave-in conditioner and a volume-boosting aerosol spray (an aerosol spray will dry soft, and won’t leave hair hard and crunchy). Then twirl one-inch sections of hair into spiral braids and let them dry overnight.

Short on time? Here’s how Fashion Week tress masters create the look in a crunch: Wrap one-inch sections of hair around a medium flatiron, alternating the direction each spiral.

“You’re just kind of haphazardly wrapping pieces and dropping them,” says Harry Josh, a hairstylist and spokesperson for John Frieda. “When you shake them out you’ll get a really nice, loose, ropy wave and it’ll hold all day.”

(Compliments of Elle Magazine)

Bangs and Bobs: The 2010 hair trend seems to center around a little 80's vibe (think Rihanna's half shaved look). Lets face it, unless you live in LA and have a pack of photpgraphers following you this really isn't a practical look. However the bowl cut bangs and bob combo helps give you a little bit of that edge. This is my favorite hairstyle!

 

 

Here are the hairstyles Jilly is considering...comment and let us know what you think is the best one!

 

Jilly now!

Option One: long bangs with layers

 

 Option Two: lob with side swept bangs

 

Option Three: side swept long bangs with layers