For the past year or so, I've been addicted to gel manicures.  Chipped polish drives me nuts, and I love that the gel lasts through anything: a day at the beach, washing dishes, shower after shower.  What I don't like is what my nails look like after removing the gel (so bad) and the fact that I actually have to go back to the salon to have it removed.  Mainly though, I'm sure by now we've all heard that we should be wary of the UV light that we're exposing ourselves to during a gel manicure.  It's questioned as a possible skin cancer risk, and really, is it worth it for a manicure?  Probably not. 

Enter Sally Hansen® Miracle Gel™, an amazing at-home alternative that provides the lasting effects of gel without the harmful UV light.  You paint it on as you would any polish and finish with the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat, and that's it.  You have a chip-free, high-shine manicure that lasts up to 14 days.  And of course I wanted to share this with my friends.  So recently I had a little pamper party, complete with Sally Hansen® Miracle Gel™ manicures and pedicures, a bloody mary bar, cheese and crackers, and a few magazines.  My "Perfect Pair" manicure is a mix of "Bare Dare" (a creamy nude color) and "Game of Chromes" (a metallic gold).  I'm loving the colors, and there's not a chip in sight.

Now, you can enter to win the top 10 shades of Sally Hansen® Miracle Gel™ so that you can check out the new formula and maybe even throw a little pamper party of your own.  Head over here to see the rules and guidelines.  Good luck!
xoxo

Sally Hansen® Miracle Gel™ At Last!  Gel without the light! 

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sally Hansen® via Mode Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sally Hansen®.”

If you could have only one beauty product in your makeup bag, what would it be?  For me, hands-down, it would be concealer.  Whether I'm hiding dark circles or blemishes, concealer is usually the one thing I'll put on during days when I'm wearing "no makeup."  I've tried a ton of different brands, so today I'm rounding up six favorites that I think are totally worth checking out. 

I really love all the new formulas that include an eye treatment and cooling effect for de-puffing the undereye area, and the first two on the list look and feel amazing on.  (The bareMinerals version is a new discovery and recent favorite because I think it gives the same effect as the Marc Jacobs pen for about half the price.)  For a budget find, the CoverGirl Trublend stick is great for on-the-go blemish covering.  (I keep it in my bag.)  If dark circles are your main concern, I love the "Stroke of Light" from bareMinerals or the Advanced Mineral formula.  Both are light-reflecting and actually do brighten the undereye area noticeably.  Finally for blemishes, I know there are a bunch of options out there, but (other than trying to go makeup free and never leaving the house) Benefit's Erase Paste has been my fall-back for years. 

If I've missed any of your favorites, let me know!  Always love hearing about different brands and formulas that readers love.  Hope everyone is having a great week!
xoxo

1. Marc Jacobs Beauty Remedy Concealer Pen $39
2. bareMinerals "Well-Rested" CC Eye Primer $20
3. CoverGirl Trublend Fix Stick Concealer $8
4. bareMinerals "Stroke of Light" Eye Brightener $22
5. Benefit Erase Paste $26
6. Advanced Mineral Makeup Perfecting Concealer $24

New York Fashion Week is definitely a time when you want to look your best and possibly stand out among a sea of fashionable women, so when Aloxxi invited me create a "head-turning look" with fresh locks, I jumped at the chance.  Like many blondes, I've been highlighting my hair for years, but I still have trouble communicating what I really want with a stylist.  Whenever I want a change, I always bring in pictures and have an idea in my head of what look I'm going for, but a stylist will usually tell me I'm all over the place.  So, armed with no clue what I wanted, yesterday I headed over to the Devachan Salon in SOHO and met with the amazing Aloxxi Artistic Advisor Marilyn.  She totally put me at ease with a full consultation complete with photos and hair swatches of what I could expect. 

Aloxxi has created what they call Color Personalities, an idea that's really pretty genius, and it turns out my personality is "Blonde Bambino."  With over 100 color personalities to choose from, the overall end results (created by professional hairdressers) will change how you define your hair color into fun, memorable personalities, instead of something you find hard to put into words.  After yesterday's Blonde Bambino transformation, my hair felt soft, healthy, and manageable, and there was definitely a little bounce in my step.  I left the salon feeling ready to take on my first day of NYFW (and maybe even turn a head or two).
xoxo

Photos thanks to Kaela Rodehorst Photography

Nordstrom shirtdress (similar);  JustFab booties (c/o);  Rebecca Minkoff bag;  C.Wonder sunglasses;  Forever 21 necklace and bracelets;  La Mer Collections watch

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Aloxxi and Lucky Magazine, but all opinions are 100% my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Style Diaries possible.

Sadly, friends, it seems that summer is coming to a close.  Now, don't get me wrong: I'm pretty excited for cooler days and, above all else, fall fashion, but there's always a sadness that comes with saying goodbye to sandy toes and salty hair.  Just in time to cure my summertime sadness, Gatehouse Home and Sevi Towel sent over the most beautiful beachy care package in celebration of Jo Malone's brand new fragrance "Wood Sage & Sea Salt" that launches on September 6th.  I'm loving the hand-loomed Turkish towel from Sevi.  It's so beautifully made and can be used as a scarf, towel, beach blanket, lightweight throw, or in so many other ways.  (It's currently in use as my airplane blanket as I head to New York for Fashion Week.)  The shell-embellished bottle from Gatehouse adds the perfect vintage beach vibe to our dresser, and I love how it pairs with my antique mirrored tray. 

And as for the fragrance, the scent is amazing - like a grownup, woodsy-beachy hybrid that's warm and seasonless.  (I now have my eye on the luxe candle version.)  It's the perfect combination of beach meets the mountains and is my new fall go-to.  And if you're in the Orange County area, Jo Malone is hosting a launch party in the South Coast Plaza store on Saturday, September 6th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  Head into the store to check out the new fragrance for yourself and #bringthecoasthome.
xoxo

In general, I don't suffer from really sensitive skin, but during the hottest parts of summer (which is right now for us), I battle heat rash on an almost daily basis.  It usually stays on my forearms and stomach, but occasionally at its worst, it will spread to my face.  Because I can't really shut myself inside for the whole summer, I've become really aware of the products I use on my face and aim for the gentlest formulas.  When I heard from the Alchimie Forever team, I decided to give the line a shot.  The line stresses "Self Care Through Skin Care" and is free of parabens, dyes, soy, gluten, mineral oil, and other known skin irritants.

The Purifying Facial Cleanser is ultra gentle, removes makeup, and leaves my skin feeling clean and tight.  I use it daily in the shower with my Clarisonic.  If you have sensitive skin, it's definitely easy on your skin.

Maybe it's because it arrived just in time for a major heat wave, but the Kantic Calming Cream is definitely my favorite moisturizer right now.  It's hydrating and perfect for sensitive or irritated skin.  The feel of it is a bit watery, and I found when worn during the day, it doesn't get heavy or greasy in the sun.  I usually apply a light layer when I get out of the shower and allow it to dry before adding any of my makeup.  Now I've got my sights set on other products in the line, including this Tightening Eye Contour Gel and Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask.  I love discovering great skincare and beauty lines and would definitely recommend Alchimie Forever for anyone with sensitive skin or for those who prefer all natural products.  What are some of your favorite skincare lines?
xoxo

These days it seems that subscription boxes and services are a dime a (literal) dozen, but when you find one that's perfect for you, well then you've got a lot of very good mail days coming.  This week I had one of those very good mail days opening this Quarterly box curated by Nina Garcia.  If you're into fashion and beauty and Marie Claire's Creative Director is picking out a bunch of products for you, it's probably going to work out just fine.  (And actually, no matter what you're into, Quarterly probably has a box for that.)

This quarter's box is chocked full of beauty and other products that were all inspired by Brazil, and really, what better inspiration for the middle of summer?  From sunblock (always a necessity) to deep conditioner (amen), a creamy lipstick (never too many) to the yummiest-smelling candle (see previous), there's something for my every beauty mood, and experimentation is just half the fun.  Plus, I've had this Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray on my must-try list for a while now.  Plus, how cute is this palm tree-printed clutch?  I could go on.  But then I started thinking, and I'm pretty sure the below images could represent my perfect Saturday:

Every girl could use a little Saturday morning pampering, so give yourself a Joico deep conditioning treatment, air-dry, and add in a little texture thanks to Oribe.  (Ahem, and shave your legs, while you're at it, with the organic shave gel by Surya Brasil.)

Next head out for a little R&R at the beach with your phone and small essentials in the Palm Tree Print Clutch by Print All Over Me.  Bring along the Hawaiian Tropic sunblock (obviously) and chic in-ear headphones by Frends.

After your day at the beach, get gussied up for a night out with this sultry Calvin Klein lipstick in "speakeasy"...

Or, hang out at your amazing-smelling home with a good read, a nail project, and refreshed skin.

And there you have it, my Saturday in a (literal) box.  Although this quarter's box is already sold out, head on over to Quarterly to sign up to receive Nina's next curated box.  (I figure we're on a first-name basis these days.)  Bonus: if you sign up now, you'll probably forget that you did and be totally surprised by the time it arrives.  Whether you like surprises or not, good mail day packages are usually the best kind of surprises.  Am I right?
xoxo

Disclosure: I received a Quarterly box to review, and I honestly just really dig it.  Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Style Diaries possible.

Hi-Brow Products: Tweezers,  Clear Brow Set,  Waterproof Brow Pen in Soft Taupe,  Highlighter

Love, love, love this Waterproof Brow Pen

Once upon a time (or maybe just a couple of years ago), I got my makeup done for an event I was attending.  The makeup artist asked about my preferences, and my only rule was pretty much no bright lipstick.  (It was pre-lipstick conversion for me.)  Unfortunately I didn't realize that I also needed to specify that Dracula-style, dark black eyebrows were also not my thing.  An hour later you could find me scrubbing my new fake eyebrows off in the bathroom and attending said event with fancy, bright red brows.  I swore off any type of brow makeup that day, and I should probably also point out that I'm an avid over-plucker.  Basically, I'm not your model student when it comes to eyebrows. 

Fast forward to 2014, and I'm now a full-blown beauty product junkie, willing to try pretty much anything.  When I heard from Lauren, the brow guru behind Hi-Brow NOLA, I figured I had nothing to lose and couldn't wait to check out her line of brow products.  From the first time I experimented, I was hooked.  I couldn't believe how much (as cliche as it sounds) my brows actually framed my face.  The Waterproof Brow Pen is hands-down my favorite.  It's perfect for filling in thin (over-plucked perhaps) brows, and the Soft Taupe color is never too harsh for me.  The paintbrush-like tip is so easy to use.  Then on to the Clear Brow Set to tame unruly brows and set them into place.  This is a no-brainer.  I finish up with a little bit of the Highlighter along my brow bone (and sometimes along cheek bones or eyelids) for a little summer glow.  These days, just like mascara and formula, I never feel fully ready without touching up my brows, and if you haven't tried these products yourself, I'd definitely recommend taking them for a spin.
xoxo

Well guys, the "New Voices of Beauty" campaign that I've been fortunate enough to work on over the past six months is coming to an end, and I'm one sad turtle.  It's been such a pleasure working with COVERGIRL, Pantene, Secret, Olay, and the lovely ladies over at Lucky Magazine, plus the experience has been amazing.  Beyond the travel, beauty product overload, and picture in Lucky Magazine (pinch me), I've made a couple of really great friends along the way.  Naty, Amy, and Katie are all brilliant contributors to this blogging community and are, in general, just really rad girls to know.

It all started back in October at Lucky FABB in New York.  On a whim, I signed up for some video competition even though I'm definitely no ace in front of a video camera.  Remember this shaky little audition video?  Painfully awkward.  But the powers that be over at P&G saw honesty, and hopefully you guys did too.  You voted and voted, and that little video was watched over 1,300 times.  Bananas.  I still can't even believe that I was one of the winners. In January we headed to New York to film the fabulous video you see above.  Despite warnings from Lucky editors about filming outside in 10-degree weather, I wore heels in the snow with no tights, gloves, or a hat.  Listen, when you get your chance to film a video with a few super beauty brands and Lucky Magazine, it's not the day for comfort shoes and a beanie, no ma'am.  I survived, and the video is something that I'll always love. 

In April, the New Voices of Beauty train moved on to Lucky FABB West where our duties included chatting all things fashion and beauty with other bloggers over brunch at the SLS Hotel.  Tough job, but someone had to do it.  I've been to Lucky's Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference a few times now, and seeing my name on the program as one of the co-hosts of the brunch was surreal.  Getting to meet Eva Chen, Lucky's Editor-In-Chief and all-around-cool-girl, wasn't so bad either.  

I'm beyond thankful to everyone at Lucky and the P&G team who made this campaign a really fun success and even more thankful to all of YOU who voted and voted to get me here.  As a thank you, I'm sharing the beauty wealth and giving away a bunch of my favorite products from COVERGIRL, Pantene, Secret, and Olay worth over $100.  (Who loves ya, baby?)  Just click around below to enter.  One winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 1st.  Thanks so much for following along on this journey of mine, and good luck to everyone who enters!
xoxo

Terms & Conditions
By submitting an entry to this giveaway you agree to the following Terms & Conditions:
One winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 1st. US entrants only.
You also agree to the Giveaway Tools' Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Confession: I may have developed a small obsession with Morgan Taylor polishes.  I discovered the brand a couple of months ago and have since been on a mission to test out every color.  While I haven't even made it halfway through these, I have tried out enough to know that I'm a definite fan of the brand.  The formula is long-lasting, and the finish is so nice and smooth.  And the colors.  There are SO many great colors to choose fromincluding a ton of nude-ish, baby pink hues (my summer go-to) and really great neutrals that I'm loving.  They're reasonably priced at under 10 bucks a bottle and are definitely worth checking out if you're a nail polish (and beauty product in general) junkie like me.  Hope everyone has a great week!
xoxo