It’s always a treat when you’re a fan of a beauty brand and you get to meet the founder, who turns out to be a complete sweetheart! I recently had the pleasure of attending an intimate dinner at the home of Christina Zilber, founder of Jouer cosmetics. I’m already a fan of Jouer, but it’s nice to learn more about a brand and what motivates certain products straight from the founder herself. I attended with my friend Lilit (you’ll know her as MakeupbyLilit on Instagram) and we got to catch up with other blogger pals as well as meet some new ones!

The one thing I couldn’t get over (besides the hospitality and the awesome products, of course) was how absolutely stunning Christina’s home was! I walked in and immediately said, “I’m moving in.” Ha! Not surprisingly, the home’s decor was exquisite; there wasn’t one corner of the house that didn’t make me ooh and ahh.

Inside there was a foundation station where we were able to color match and pick what formula worked best for each individual skin type. I walked away with one of the best tinted moisturizer products I’ve tried, which I can’t wait to try!

Outside the dinner tables were set up just beyond the pool, with twinkling lights shining above. We enjoyed a lovely dinner, got to know everyone a little better, and just had a really fun girl’s night! Everything was simply perfect. What I enjoyed most about hearing Christina’s journey with creating products is learning that she created these products with the intention of wearing them herself. I couldn’t think of a more authentic process. And looking at Christina I would imagine no woman would mind looking like her! Her makeup was at the same time glamorous and natural… Maybe I’ll create a glamorous and natural look using my Jouer products?!

Photos by Jen Cawley (@jennifercawleyphotographs) and Amelie Zilber (@ameliesphotos).

Like many other beauty junkies, I’ve recently discovered ColourPop as an emerging beauty brand that’s making all the right moves. Incredible colors, fantastic formulas, no animal testing… They’re as close to perfect as a beauty brand could get, in my book!

I jumped on the ColourPop bandwagon just in time, too, because they’re about to release 25 of the most stunning matte lip colors I’ve ever seen! I attended an event hosted by ipsy and ColourPop last week, and I saw all these beautiful colors laid out across the table. Thinking they were glosses, I had a very tame reaction at first. And then I discovered they were matte colors… And I went bananas! I am so, so, so excited for you guys to check out these colors, not only because the shades and the formula are awesome, but because each one rings up at just SIX BUCKS! All of that awesomeness AND they’re affordable, you really can’t beat that.

I was lucky enough to score not one set of the 25 matte colors but two which, of course, means I’ll be doing an international giveaway! I haven’t yet decided which platform I’ll host the giveaway on, so be sure to follow me on YouTube (youtube.com/tenipanosian), Instagram (@tenipanosian) and Snapchat (tenipanosian) to be sure you see the giveaway announcement once I figure out all the details!

For now, enjoy these swatches and look forward to the release on June 25.

from left to right: Vice, Midi, Trap, Shimmy, Seesaw, 1st Base, Donut, Bumble, Tulle, and Limbo.

from left to right: Pacific, Ouiji, Mars, Buds, Highball, Koala, Sunday, Drive-In, Lychee, Creeper, Avenue, Zipper, and LAX

Here’s me wearing one of my favorite colors: Succulent. 

Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision

A little while ago I had the opportunity to work with Alcon to promote the AIR OPTIX COLORS contact lenses, but this wasn’t any ordinary project: I got to work with Scott Barnes, Illaria Urbinati, and Lacy Redway, all of whom are celeb go-to’s when it comes to makeup, style, and hair!

The AIR OPTIX COLORS contacts are all about making a statement, whether that statement is a subtle or bold one. My personal favorite color is the Honey, which gives my light brown eyes a sparkling amber look. The colors are split up into two categories: Subtle and Vibrant. The subtle group includes Gray, Blue, Green, Pure Hazel, and Brown, all of which add a very natural hint of a change to any eye color. If you’re feeling a little more daring, you can try the Vibrant shades, which include Sterling Gray, Brilliant Blue, Gemstone Green, and Honey.

Throughout the shoots with Scott, Illaria, and Lacy, the two models on set and I (Neka and Chanel, if you’re reading this, hi and I miss you! They were two of the coolest chicks I’ve met on a job) got to try on a range of different shades from the AIR OPTIX COLORS line. While we changed up our colors, Scott gave us tips for what eyeshadow colors to pair with our contacts, Lacy gave us tips for how to style our hair, and Illaria dressed us in her hand-picked wardrobe pieces.

I have to say it was pretty fun spending a few days just trying on different eye colors! And considering I have sensitive eyes, I was pleased to find that the AIR OPTIX COLORS really let my eyes breath and never irritated them. I used to wear contacts for 13 years before I got corrective surgery, and I remember trying color lenses when I was a teen and how uncomfortable they were. The AIR OPTIX COLORS were totally comfortable even as we changed up makeup looks!

If you want to see how you look in the AIR OPTIX COLORS contacts, check out their Color Studio where you can upload a photo of yourself and virtually try on any color, just click here to try it!

Matte lip colors are the hottest makeup item right now… Everyone is making them. But you can leave it to Urban Decay to do it right.

They’re about to release 9 shades of their Matte Revolution Lipsticks on July 12, and if you’re already a fan of their Revolution Lipstick, this is something you’re going to want to see! Urban Decay has created a matte formula that’s completely opaque and matte, but still comfortable in wear. Sometimes matte shades tend to get severely dry, making them difficult to wear for longer periods of time. But the Matte Revolution Lipsticks keep a soft matte appearance without drying out your lips for extreme comfort and extreme drama combined.

Have a look at these swatches for now and pick your favorite shade!! Shades, really… Hard to pick just one!

Summer is a time to step out of the usual neutral makeup zone and into bright, lively colors. Coincidentally, summer also happens to be a time when events come by the dozen! Pool parties, BBQ’s, and for-no-reason celebrations… The summer months are packed with fun.

So why not rock a vibrant summer makeup look to the next rooftop soiree or poolside gathering? The best thing about summertime makeup looks is that, with just a few bright accents, it’s all very minimalist. A hot pink lip with just some mascara, a mermaid blue liner, or a swipe of sea foam shadow is all it takes to liven up your look and make it summer appropriate.

I’m sharing two looks that you can wear to your next summer event using some of my top picks from Ulta: One is a little more daring and bold, and the other is a bit more subdued but still celebrates the spirit of the season. In either case, it’s easy and quick!

Look 1

I knew I needed to incorporate a bright lip into one of these looks, so I went for a vibrant pop of red with Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Venezia. The matte finish on this lip color is right on trend and that pinkish-red hue is to die for! I thought a sky blue nail polish would contrast beautifully with the lip color, so I picked up Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails Extreme Wear nail color in Big Teal, also from Ulta. To give this makeup look just a little more life, (and it only took, like, 10 seconds!) I also picked up the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler palette and used Metallic just at the inner and outer corners of my bottom lash line. The shimmery chartreuse shade added another fun accent to this vibrant look.

Look 2

If bright colors aren’t for you, stick to more pastel shades. I picked up the Ulta Butter Balm Lip Gloss in Anya, it’s the perfect baby pink shade and it has a super high shine finish. And this lip color still looks great with the light blue nails; it just gives it a more girl-next-door vibe than the fierceness of Look 1!

With both makeup looks, I opted for the Becca Cosmetics Ever Matte Shine Proof Foundation in Olive. For the summer months, a super matte formula is ideal since it tends to get pretty hot, and the finish on this foundation is just perfect!

So which look did you like best? With all the summer events happening, I’m sure you can rock both at some point! Enjoy the rest of your summer and be sure to check out an Ulta store or Ulta.com to shop the items I picked out.

Shopping for makeup has to be one of the most fun experiences! It’s the retail therapy that makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. So when Kohl’s sent me a gift card to go shopping through their beauty section, I threw on my shoes, grabbed my car keys, and headed out to the nearest store!

This was actually my first time shopping through Kohl’s for beauty products and was so pleasantly surprised at the selection of products as well as the sleek, engaging displays. It’s always nice to shop for beauty items when there are testers available so I glided through the aisles trying all the eyeshadows, pencils, and foundations I could get my hands on! I stuck to mostly makeup items, even though they had tons of skincare products to choose from, because there were so many things in Kohl’s that I don’t see much of in other stores. Brands like Cargo and theBalm, for example, are hard to find if you’re not shopping online, so it’s nice to be able to go into the store and try out the products before buying.

My new goodies include foundation from LORAC, a CC cream from PürMinerals, an eyeshadow palette from Cargo, among other products, most of which I’ve never tried before. I shared a makeup haul on my YouTube channel in a ‘first impression’ style, where I tried on each product. Have a look and let me know if any of these happen to be your favorites! As for my favorite, I’m going to have to go with that Cargo Summer in the City eyeshadow palette… The colors are stunning!!

Summer’s almost over and we’re slowly transitioning into autumn. (Though in southern California it still feels like we’re right in the thick of summertime!) With September upon us, it’s just a matter of time before the holidays sneak up on us, so I’m jumping into fall makeup right now!

The Look

Since we are still enjoying warm weather, I figured I’d do a summer/fall hybrid look. I headed to Kohl’s and picked up a few more items to make this look happen: I used the Cargo Summer in the City eyeshadow palette (which I showed you guys in my makeup haul and so many of you loved!) to add a golden bronze shimmery look to my eyes, a little bit of the Mr. Write Now eyeliner pencil by theBalm to add some definition, the LORAC PRO Fiber Mascara, and the Eylure false lashes in 080 for a little extra volume in my lashes. For my skin, I used the Time Balm Foundation by theBalm for the first time; it gave me excellent coverage and kept my dry skin hydrated. I also tried, for the first time, the Cargo HD Picture Perfect concealer in 3W and the LORAC PRO Contour Palette. To finish off the look and add an autumn touch, I used the LORAC Alter Ego lipstick in Secret Agent: The matte finish combined with the dark mauve/brown tone makes this the perfect color for fall!

The Giveaway

If you haven’t seen the video yet, have a look below. And if you have, let me know what you think in the comments! If you did like the video, I’m giving away 5 gift cards, each $200, that you can use at Kohl’s stores or Kohls.com and score all the products I used for this look if you want! Because of shipping issues, this giveaway will have to be restricted to US residents only, and all you have to do is leave a comment below and I’ll have an app randomly pick the 5 winners. Best of luck to all!!

Contest will end on September 17, 11:59a PST and winners will be announced September 18. (Be sure to leave a valid email address in the email field so I can get in touch with you if you win!)

We talk so much about makeup— what the best products are, the best lipsticks, the best eyeshadow palettes— but how often do we talk about the tools that actually get that makeup onto our pretty mugs?! I recall several occasions where I’ve peeked at my non-makeup artist-or-beauty-blogger friends’ makeup bags and found just a couple measly (and many times old) brushes. (Sorry, friends, didn’t mean to put you on blast… But it’s time to step up your brush game!)

With the help of fellow experts over at Sephora, I’ve curated a selection of their pro brushes that are perfect for achieving some of my go-to looks. These high-quality, carefully crafted brushes are an essential part of my makeup routine because, as I said, the tools are just as important as the actual products.

FLAWLESS FACE

As most of you know, my absolute favorite look is the one where I have a glowing, flawless complexion with a hint of color at my cheeks. The minimalist in me resorts to this very look 8 out of 10 times that I wear makeup. Some key brushes for a look like this include foundation, concealer, and blush brushes: For my foundation, the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Airbrush #55 is just what I need for the medium coverage foundations that I typically like to use. Here I’ve mixed my Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with two drops of the SEPHORA COLLECTION  Radiant Luminizing Drops in Ultra Light to give it that extra glow. Using the soft, semi-dense fibers of the #55 brush, I gently buff the foundation into my skin for a truly airbrushed finish. What I particularly love about this brush is that the super soft hairs are extremely gentle on the skin, which keeps me free of irritation.

Moving on to concealer: This might actually be my favorite brush in the entire Sephora range! The SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Airbrush Concealer #57 has the exact shape and density I need for perfect concealer application. The domed shape of the brush really allows me to get into the very inner part of my eye area, just below my brows where the bridge of my nose begins. Using a concealer with an apricot undertone to it to cover any trace of darkness, (for this photo I used the SEPHORA COLLECTION Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in Eclair) the #57 brush effortlessly covers, blends, and suddenly my area looks bright and flawless!

For the blush, I used the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Angled Blush Brush #49, applying the Urban Decay 8-Hour Powder Blush in Score. The angled brush is key for easy blush application, because it allows the color to gradually blend into the skin without running the risk of ending up with two pink circles on your cheeks. Using a light hand, gently sweep the brush onto your cheeks starting at the apples and blending up toward your cheekbones.

Aside from achieving that flawless face look, there are three more key brushes I would recommend to create a variety of looks.

For the eyes, an eyeliner brush is an absolute must! I’m extremely particular about liner brushes, most especially angled brushes because those are the type I typically prefer to apply a winged liner with. Some tend to be too thick, not allowing me to create a sleek line; but the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Angled Liner #22 has the absolute perfect density. Looking at the brush, it almost looks razor sharp! With a brush like this, the sharpest winged liner is literally at your fingertips.

On to the lips! I’m a big fan of matte liquid lip colors, as I’m sure many of you are, too. But most of them come with doe foot applicators, making it really difficult for me to get clean lines around the edges of my lips. Enter the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Angled Lip #84! I used this to apply this deep matte red shade and couldn’t believe how effortlessly I achieved precise lines… No lip liner necessary. I just dipped the brush onto the doe foot applicator, and with one swipe at each quadrant of my lips, I had the perfect matte pout.

Finally, the highlight. You guys know how much I love a good glow! Highlighter has always been my favorite step in makeup because it brings so much life to my face with such a small detail. But, of course, the right brush can make all the difference in achieving that eye-catching highlight. Using the SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Fan #65, I hold the brush very lightly and proceed to apply my highlighter in a rapid back and forth motion against the high points of my cheekbones, into my brow bone, and above the arches of my brows. A sleek fan brush like this evenly distributes the highlighter (I used Champagne Pop by Becca Cosmetics in the photo) so that you don’t get awkward patches of that dazzling highlight. Instead it gives me an even, beautiful glow in just a few swipes.

That sums up some of my must-have brushes if you’re stumped on what to get! Consider this sort of a brush 101… If you have more questions about brushes just leave a comment down below and we’ll chat. To see the brushes I used and more from the Sephora Collection PRO Brushes collection, click here.

FTC: In partnership with Sephora.

FTC: In partnership with Clairol.

If you’ve been following me for a while you know that one of my biggest hair issues is gray hair! Over the years the amount of grays scattered through my dark hair have increased, making color treating my hair a necessity. And in true beauty blogger fashion, I’ve tried about a dozen different coloring methods not only to conceal the silver streak through my mane, but to keep that rich, dark color sealed in. (I used to have an ombre through my hair, so from about the halfway point down the color needs to be refreshed every now and then.)

The most recent at-home coloring system I tried is the Clairol Age Defy. (I used the color 3.5, Darkest Brown.) Going into it, I felt pretty confident about the product already because I’ve tried several other color products from Clairol in the past. But what intrigued me about the Age Defy specifically is its claim to target 7 signs of aging, including dryness, lackluster hair, and, of course, grays! Considering I have dry, frizzy hair and I have grays, this sounded like the perfect product to try.

THE PROCESS

In preparation for this treatment you should, of course, do a skin allergy test. About two days before you decide to color treat your hair at home, test out the product somewhere like the nape of your neck where it won’t be too visible just to be sure you don’t have any sort of reaction.

The first step to this treatment is the pre-treatment solution, which I’ve never seen in a hair color kit before. I applied this clear serum to my hair from root to end to soften the hair, which the Age Defy system claims will allow the color to penetrate better. Once I was done with that step, I put on the gloves that come in the box, read through the instructions, and began combining the color creme with the activator. (Each step is labeled by number so it makes it easy to go from step 1 to step 3.) Holding my finger over the nozzle, I made sure to shake up the mixture thoroughly and prepared to apply.

For me, the easiest way to apply the color is to separate the hair in a straight line and apply along the hairline just about a quarter inch from my scalp, then use my hand to smooth the color down toward the ends. I repeated this step, separating the hair all throughout and saturating it almost halfway down. Since I’m covering the grays closer to my roots, I didn’t immediately apply the color to my ends. First, I allowed the color to sit for 20 minutes, (grays tend to be stubborn in taking color, so make sure you give it the full 20 minutes!) then for the last 5 minutes I applied the rest of the color through all my hair, saturating the ends. And here’s a tip if you’re dying lighter hair darker, especially if you’re like me and had the ombre in the past: Lighter hair takes color much more quickly, so don’t leave it on for too long, otherwise you’re going to end up with extremely dark hair as opposed to a more natural and rich look.

On to the rinse: Once I rinsed out the color and gave it a light (and sulfate free) shampoo, I applied the Pro-V ColorSeal conditioning therapy, step 3, as the finishing product to keep the hair looking soft and shiny.

THE RESULT

After I blow dried my hair I put a few waves through it with a 1.5 inch curling iron and assessed the ‘after’ look of my hair. I examined all the areas where I had grays and every last inch was covered with a natural dark chocolate brown as if grays never existed there. What’s more, my hair was shiny from root to ends, something that doesn’t happen often! My mom actually saw me right after I colored and styled my hair, and she could not stop talking about how incredible my hair looked! In her words, the color looked “crisp and shiny.”

I walked away from my experience with the Clairol Age Defy extremely happy with my results; the color looks sensational, my hair feels soft to the touch, and it’s shiny, which is more than I thought I could ask for considering how hard it is to get my hair to look shiny! You can check out the full range of 18 colors, from black to extra light blond, and if you have any questions about my experience leave a comment and we’ll chat!

Turks and Caicos has always been on my list of places to travel to. Ever since I read that Eva Longoria had her honeymoon there and saw the breathtaking pictures, I’ve been in love with the place! So when Tarte Cosmetics asked me to join them for a trip to the beautiful islands, I couldn’t resist.

We headed out there, a group of about 20, to celebrate the launch of new Tarte goodies and enjoy some of the island’s activities. If you ever find yourself traveling to Turks and Caicos, I highly recommend the Gansevoort… It was a stunning hotel!

We had so many cool experiences in Turks and Caicos, I’m really glad I documented everything in a vlog! If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it here.

I posted a few photos to Instagram but here are a few more from our incredible trip!

The post TURKS and CAICOS appeared first on Miss Maven.

Did someone say holiday makeup?! The holidays call for a jazzier-than-usual makeup look, so I put together a combo that I don’t typically pair: Dramatic eyes and dramatic lips! I’ve always shied away from doing both just because I feel like one ends up fighting the other and just looks too done up… But in this case, I was so happy with how the makeup look turned out!

Since it was going to be an extra dramatic look, I decided to keep the lips classic with a matte red lipstick. The eyes feature a pretty neutral palette, but the star of the eye makeup is, of course, that bold winged eyeliner. Check out this quick teaser and, if you like what you see, watch the full tutorial on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/BjJvxbXIzHY

The post HOLIDAY makeup TUTORIAL appeared first on Miss Maven.

Summer is a time to step out of the usual neutral makeup zone and into bright, lively colors. Coincidentally, summer also happens to be a time when events come by the dozen! Pool parties, BBQ’s, and for-no-reason celebrations… The summer months are packed with fun.

So why not rock a vibrant summer makeup look to the next rooftop soiree or poolside gathering? The best thing about summertime makeup looks is that, with just a few bright accents, it’s all very minimalist. A hot pink lip with just some mascara, a mermaid blue liner, or a swipe of sea foam shadow is all it takes to liven up your look and make it summer appropriate.

I’m sharing two looks that you can wear to your next summer event using some of my top picks from Ulta: One is a little more daring and bold, and the other is a bit more subdued but still celebrates the spirit of the season. In either case, it’s easy and quick!

Look 1

I knew I needed to incorporate a bright lip into one of these looks, so I went for a vibrant pop of red with Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Venezia. The matte finish on this lip color is right on trend and that pinkish-red hue is to die for! I thought a sky blue nail polish would contrast beautifully with the lip color, so I picked up Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails Extreme Wear nail color in Big Teal, also from Ulta. To give this makeup look just a little more life, (and it only took, like, 10 seconds!) I also picked up the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler palette and used Metallic just at the inner and outer corners of my bottom lash line. The shimmery chartreuse shade added another fun accent to this vibrant look.

Look 2

If bright colors aren’t for you, stick to more pastel shades. I picked up the Ulta Butter Balm Lip Gloss in Anya, it’s the perfect baby pink shade and it has a super high shine finish. And this lip color still looks great with the light blue nails; it just gives it a more girl-next-door vibe than the fierceness of Look 1!

With both makeup looks, I opted for the Becca Cosmetics Ever Matte Shine Proof Foundation in Olive. For the summer months, a super matte formula is ideal since it tends to get pretty hot, and the finish on this foundation is just perfect!

So which look did you like best? With all the summer events happening, I’m sure you can rock both at some point! Enjoy the rest of your summer and be sure to check out an Ulta store or Ulta.com to shop the items I picked out.

The post SUMMER MAKEUP picks appeared first on Miss Maven.

New  Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and while you may have the perfect sparkly sequined gown or LBD to wear for the night, do you know what you’re doing with your makeup?!

I’ve always been a fan of New Year’s Eve simply because it lets me step outside my usual neutral box and experiment with fun makeup looks. This year I’ve created a bold winged liner with a gunmetal glitter over it for a standout look that’s still simple. Have a peek at the teaser below and to see the full makeup look, watch it here.

Working with glitter can be difficult as it can be messy! If you get the glitter on your face, (which you probably will!) here’s a tip that’ll clean it up quickly: Take a piece of scotch tape and lightly press it against your skin. This will pick up any trace of glitter without having to wipe your makeup off and start over. And if you can’t get your hands on a glitter glue like I used, not to worry: Just mix one part eyelash glue with one part water, mix, and this will work perfectly as a glitter glue!

I decided to keep the lips soft and neutral for this look just because the eyes are so dramatic. But if you want to kick it up a notch, (why not… It’s New Year’s Eve, right?) I suggest a deep plum lipstick to give the look a daring and sultry finish. If you do go with a darker lip for this look, I suggest a matte color; the glitter on the eyes and a glossy dark lip might be a bit much.

Have a look at the tutorial and let me know what you think! Did you like it?

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2016!

The post NEW YEAR’S EVE makeup TUTORIAL appeared first on Miss Maven.

I’m so excited to finally be able to share this with you guys! I’ve been documenting part of the renovation and decorating process on Snapchat, but I finally finished my guest house which I’ve turned into sort of a workspace for me. It’s a nice quiet space I can sit and work in without any interruptions; I guess you could say it’s sort of an office for me!

If you haven’t seen the room tour on YouTube, check it out here: https://youtu.be/BR0-yZ_-_5E

And below are some more photos of the room… I hope you like what I did with it! Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts. xox

FURNITURE AND DECOR DETAILS:
Kendall Sofa: World Market (online)
Silvery blue throw pillow: West Elm (in store)
Beaded blue throw pillow: Home Goods
Safavieh Rug: Wayfair.com
Marble top coffee table: CB2 (in store and online)
Gold pineapple vase: CB2 (in store)
Agate coasters: Anthropologie (online)
Faux Shearling custom chair: Etsy https://goo.gl/BQMziM
Chrome wall mount bookcases: CB2 (in store and online)
Chrome skull: CB2 (in store)
Brass gallery frames: CB2 (in store and online)
Tripod floor lamp: West Elm (online)
Gold pouf: RachelGeorge.com
Folding table with gold legs and white tray: CB2 (in store)
Floor mirror: Home Goods
Marble and gold end table: RachelGeorge.com
Copper end table and mint vase: CB2 (in store)
Desk: Bernhardt (online at Horchow)
Metallic gold makeup brush print: Glam-prints.com
Acrylic chair: Retrofurnish
Faux shearling throw: Ikea
Brass desk lamp and brass lantern: West Elm (in store)
Desk accessories: RachelGeorge.com
Makeup organizer drawers: Ikea *** this was marked as a last chance item so I don’t know if they will sell it for much longer!
The floors are from a store in Glendale, CA called ADCO. They are a laminate variety and the color is called Sea Smoke.

The post MY NEW HOUSE: room tour appeared first on Miss Maven.

It’s funny because I sat down to write this blog post, and my intent was to write about my tablescape for the Valentine’s Day dinner I hosted last night with my college roommates… But after watching the video from our gathering two years ago, all I can think about is how much I love these girls and how special their friendship is to me. I’m going to hold back from getting too emo for now, ha! I’ll tell you guys all about our Valentine’s Day tradition, but I know a lot of you have asked to see more home inspiration posts, so here goes.

This was my first year hosting what we call the 1137 Panty Exchange. (1137 was the address to our house in college.) We have an 1137 Thanksgiving, 1137 Christmas, and, of course, our annual Valentine’s Day celebration. We get together and have dinner, catch up on each others’ lives, and bring a cute pair of panties to exchange with someone else. (New panties, in case there was any confusion.) We normally have our panty exchange before V-Day, but this year, due to scheduling, we had it a few days after the 14th.

I really wanted to create a classic, romantic tablespace for this dinner. Nothing too crazy, just a traditional centerpiece and pretty place settings! For the flowers, I went into my local Ralph’s and bought a bunch of white roses and hydrangeas, and since it was Valentine’s Day, I grabbed a bunch of pink baby carnations to weave through the centerpiece. For that large centerpiece, I spent less than $100! You guys might remember my post about the DIY rose bouquet… And you might also remember that one bunch of roses is $9.99 at Ralph’s! I also went to Michael’s and bought the wire thing that you make wreaths out of, and I arranged the flowers on it but instead of a wreath, I laid it flat on the table and placed a vase in the center filled with more flowers.

I also grabbed a burlap table runner from Michael’s; very simple and rustic, nothing fancy! I guess the ‘fancy’ elements on the table were the water glasses from Anthropologie, which come in two sizes: A tall skinny glass, and a short fat glass. Instead of picking between the two, (because I loved both!) I decided to get half of each and alternate them on the table. I actually love when place settings aren’t 100% matching, so this was the perfect subtle difference. I also bought new flatware from West Elm, I fell in love with these silver forks and knives with the hammered detail on the handles. Before I bought these I was sure I was going to settle on brushed gold/brass flatware, but these were so stunning I had to have them!

For the napkins, I went with a charcoal color because it matches my dining room decor, and it’s nice not to see lipstick or food stains on a napkin! These were also very simple and I picked them up (as well as the plates) from West Elm.

This tradition is one that I look forward to every single year. Each of us goes through something different in life, some joyous and some challenging… But to get together with these girls honestly makes me feel complete. Life was beautiful in college! Not that it isn’t now, but back then life was care free and everything we did was about making memories together. Now, life is a little more complex, but every time we get together it reminds us of how lucky we are to have each other and to be able to make the memories that we’ve made together. It’s one of the most comforting feelings I’ve ever felt. This year has been particularly challenging for us as a group; we’ve had to deal with a serious health issue with one of our girls and it’s the first time we’ve faced something like this. And I’m sure this isn’t the only challenge life will throw at us… But the point is that we go through these together. We could just as easily have gathered at a coffee shop, it wouldn’t matter, just as long as we’re together and supporting one another. This is a gift I couldn’t possibly replace with anything in the world.

I didn’t document this year’s dinner because I wanted to focus on catching up with everyone. I just took some photos of the table before everyone arrived, but here’s a video of our panty exchange two years ago! It’s all about life, laughs, and, most of all… LOVE.

The post MY valentines appeared first on Miss Maven.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! GOOD LUCK!

The post MY makeup: GIVEAWAY appeared first on Miss Maven.

If you ask anyone what style means to them, chances are the majority are going to have some variation of this answer: Style is expression. From the shoes on your feet to the jewels around your neck, fashion gives us a chance to explore different ways to express ourselves. I’ve always seen style as confidence-building; as an adolescent and a young adult I always had reservations about how to dress myself and what I could and couldn’t experiment with. But I’ve become so comfortable with the idea of testing out different styles that I may not normally have thought were “me,” so I’m thrilled to team up with bebe to share with you a little journey into style and self confidence.

I had a chance to shoot a video with bebe for spring, so I got together with their team to pick out what pieces I would use to tell my style story. For me, it’s always nice to make fashion a collaborative effort, because you get to talk out loud about what you believe works and hear what ideas others have, too. I’ve got a pretty strong personality, so picking the two looks was almost immediate for me: I locked my eyes on a gorgeous floral maxi dress that I knew would turn heads and immediately balanced it out with a more sporty crocheted dress-and-cropped-jacket combo. Here’s where the process got interesting: Thanks to Naomi, one of the awesome stylists at bebe, I worked up the courage to wear a pair of black hoop earrings in a chain design, something I would probably never wear! For me, this was a chance to really step outside my comfort zone and wear something that I didn’t think I could pull off. But I got dressed, threw my hair back, put on my zip up booties, and fastened those hoop earrings and I could not have looked or felt better!

It wasn’t just about this one instance taking a style risk; this was just one experience that built up my confidence and got me excited to push the envelope a little more and try out new and different things! Style is a constantly evolving concept, whether a little bit or a lot, and dressing with confidence is key for great style. When you feel good, you look good… Am I right?!

I hope you all enjoy this behind the scenes video and of course check out the awesome video bebe put together by clicking here!! The items I wore in this video are available to shop in store and online. 

Print Pleated Maxi Dress | Crochet Lace Mini Dress | Nikita Jacket | Chainlink Hoop Earrings | 

The post MY STYLE… remixed appeared first on Miss Maven.

We all have different styles and opinions when it comes to beauty and fashion; but one thing most of us can agree on is that hair removal is pretty much an essential part of any woman’s beauty routine. Whether you’re looking to impress in your bikini or create a smooth and hair-free canvas for your makeup, I’m testing out a product that’ll bring you body hair removal with long lasting results… All in the comfort of your own home!

Recently I was asked to review the Gillette Venus Silk-expert powered by Braun, an at-home IPL device. Most of us are familiar with Venus as a female-favorite in razors, and they’ve joined forces with Braun to create the super easy-to-use Venus Silk-expert. The first thing that struck me about the device when I opened the package was how simple it all looked: There’s just the device and a power cord… That’s it! There were no complicated attachments or instructions, it was all very straightforward. Also included in the box is a Venus razor so you’ve got all you need to complete the process from beginning to end.

Before using the device, it’s essential that the area you’re going to treat is shaved, so I used my Gillette Venus & Olay razor to shave my left leg. (I like this one because my skin is pretty dry and you shouldn’t have any lotion on when you’re using the Venus Silk-expert; this way I get extra exfoliation and moisture while I shave.) I decided to use the device only on my left leg so I could measure the results against my right leg. Once I was finished shaving, I went ahead and dried my skin and prepared my new IPL device for use, which included just one step: Plug in the a/c adapter into a power outlet and it automatically powers on.

When it comes to using the Venus Silk-expert, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use: Once the machine comes on, you place the head onto your skin and the light meter on the side will light up. Here’s where this device gets really high-tech: It has a SensoAdapt™ skin tone sensor that’s able to detect your skin and give it the amount of light it needs for safe and effective results. This is what made me feel confident about using this, because it can be intimidating trying to figure out what level of intensity you need for good results without being a professional. The Venus Silk-expert takes all the guess work out of permanent hair reduction and does the calculation for you. Once you have the head on the area you want to treat, you just click the large button and it will deliver the light in a nano second, producing a red light which tells you it’s done. Just move the device and repeat on the other areas you want to treat! As for pain, I can be a baby about these things (ha!) and I did just fine; it feels like a quick rubber band slap and it’s so fast that it doesn’t slow down the process at all.

So far I’ve used the Venus Silk-expert 3 times and I’m already starting to see a noticeable reduction in hair on my left leg vs. my right leg. You really start to see results beginning around 4-6 weeks, but already some of the follicles are gone completely (this doesn’t mean they’re gone forever; it could, but it’s likely that it’s slowed the growth) and when I run my hand up both legs I can feel less hair on the left side. I’m really eager to see how it looks after 12 weeks. I’m also going to use this on my under arms since I had laser hair removal done there about 8 years ago and I could use a touch up!

The IPL device is best suited for fair skin with dark hair; darker complexion will absorb more light from the device so it won’t actually be effective and is not recommended. (I’m a medium complexion with dark hair.) It’s also not very effective on blonde, red, gray, or white hair. That’s where it’s useful to have the SensoAdapt™ that reads the skin and hair tone to determine what amount of light needs to be delivered for optimal results.

The Venus Silk-expert powered by Braun is available now and can be found in store and online at select stores nationwide, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com.

FTC: In partnership with Gillette Venus.

The post REVIEW: PERMANENT hair reduction AT HOME appeared first on Miss Maven.

When I was in college, we took a trip to Italy during the summer before my senior year. We toured and performed in Venice, Florence, Rome, and finally took some time to vacation, finishing out our trip on the beautiful island of Capri. That was in May 2006… It was one of the biggest surprises of my life that Dolce & Gabbana invited me to Capri exactly 10 years later, to the day, to celebrate the limited edition launch of Light Blue.

Visiting the Amalfi Coast in Italy and specifically Capri is one of the most magical experiences one could have. I remembered everything, down to the scent of the place! But this time around I had the pleasure of learning more about what Capri has to offer, thanks to Dolce & Gabbana. The Light Blue fragrance is one of my classic favorites; I wore it consistently in my early 20’s. And now, with the limited edition Light Blue Love in Capri, (and Light Blue Beauty of Capri for men) I learned just what it is about Capri that inspired this fresh and memorable scent.

One thing you should know about the island of Capri is that lemons are abundant! They’re large, have a wonderful aroma, and are used in much of the cuisine on the island. Pairing lemon and mandarin with honeysuckle, almond blossom, jasmine, and heliotrope, the crisp and energizing scent is at the same time fresh and warm with a base of musk, cedar wood, and dry amber.

You may recall the iconic Light Blue ad with David Gandy and Bianca Balti in Capri in front of the Faraglioni; one morning we took a boat out and cruised right to the spot where they shot that campaign! The steep cliffside and the enormous rocks in that crystal blue water made for one of the most memorable moments of the entire trip. It’s not hard to imagine a love story in Capri; you’re surrounded by endless natural beauty, from the Blue Grotto to the lush green landscapes… Who wouldn’t fall in love?!

After enjoying a lovely dinner with the entire Dolce & Gabbana team, the following morning we hopped on a boat headed back to Naples to catch a flight home. As we got further and further away from the island, I was able to admire its natural beauty from a distance. I waved goodbye and, before even stepping onto the mainland, started to plan my next trip back to beautiful Capri.

The post LOVE IN CAPRI appeared first on Miss Maven.

It’s officially summer! The sweaters and jeans are packed away, and I’ve busted out my mini dresses and shorts for the next few (sizzling hot) months. Summertime is always my opportunity to recommit to maintaining a healthy looking glow— not just for summer, but all year round. This time around, I’m going with a throwback that’s been revamped: My friends and I used to use the original Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for a gradual tan, this stuff was in every dorm room and every bathroom! The line has expanded into a few different formulas and Jergens sent me the full range to try out and customize my glow.

Here’s the clincher for me with these products, right off the bat: Most products that produce a tan (whether gradual or quickly) don’t include moisturizing qualities. I usually end up with tan crocodile skin which, sadly, is not on trend. (Ha!) But the Jergens Natural Glow is a moisturizer that delivers natural looking color, gradually. The gorgeous tan you end up developing is just the glowing icing on the cake!

I tried out Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, Natural Glow +Firming Daily Moisturizer, Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow, and Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer. With each of these formulas, you can decide which one is your favorite or which to combine to create a routine that works best for you. I already knew I loved the Daily Moisturizer, so I tried a combination that ended up working really well for me: For three days, I use the Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer, getting me to a shade darker in those three days so I can jump start my tan. After those three days, I hop over to the Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer which not only maintains my tan but gradually enhances it and keeps it from fading. If I ever want to kick it up even more, I can go back to the 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer. In any case, no matter which combination I use, I’m still getting the hydration that I desperately need for my dry skin along with that natural glowing color!

I have to admit, my absolute favorite version from the Natural Glow line is the Foaming Daily Moisturizer; the foam just absorbs so quickly and feels like a lighter formula, even though I’m still getting all the moisture I need. New favorite body moisturizer for sure!!

Just in time to add some majorly chic decor pieces to my home, Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion (@paperfashion on Instagram) graced me with my very own illustration, complete with that golden Jergens glow! It’s the perfect representation of that natural, sun-kissed tan that I’m currently basking in.

Getting your tan just where you want it is a really personal thing… Not everyone wants the same tan! That’s why it was fun playing around with the different products from Jergens Natural Glow line. Since I’m naturally a light/medium complexion (more on the medium side) I used the Medium to Tan color in both the 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer and the Foaming Daily Moisturizer, but there’s also a Fair to Medium version. Mix and match, play around, and customize your glow!

FTC: I wrote this review in partnership with Jergens. All opinions and reviews are my own.

The post MY CUSTOM GLOW appeared first on Miss Maven.