1 Lipstick 3 Ways

Bright lipstick is always in for summer. So you go out, buy the brightest color that strikes your fancy, bring it home, and wear it once. Maybe twice. Then it sits on your counter staring you in the face until winter when bright lips seem out of place.

 So how can you get some more use out of that summery color? Here are some ideas!

1. Wear it as blush.

Lipstick (especially creamy formulas without sparkle) are ideal cream blushes. You can apply it two ways: rub some from the bullet onto the back of your hand and then swirl a synthetic brush in the lipstick and apply lightly to your cheeks. You can also apply to lipstick to your fingers and then rub it into your cheeks. The key is to make it a light wash of color.

2. Use it as a cream shadow.

It might be a bit out there for some, but using lipstick as a cream shadow is a great way to bring a bold statement to your eye look. Of course, you can also try lighter lipsticks if you want a sheer wash of peach or creamy pink. The key to using lipstick on your eyes is using a eyeshadow primer underneath and to set the lipstick with a shear wash of eyeshadow to ensure it doesnt crease.
DISCLAIMER: Most lipsticks are not approved to use around the eyes, so use it at your own risk. When using lipstick on my own eyes, I just keep it away from my waterline and tear duct area.

3. Wear it as lipstick (Duh!)

OK, I'm not trying to be smart here. All of us have bought a lipstick because we love the color but have felt strange wearing it in public because it screams "LOOK AT MY LIPS!". Summer is the perfect time to get over that fear and just go for it. Orange, purple, pink, fuchsia, blue, green- whatever! Wear it to the pool, to the store, on a date or to church. Why not? Whats stopping you?


Products used:

Face-
Loreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder foundation in Light Ivory
Maybelline True Fit Concealer in Fair
Milani Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose

Eyebrows-
Avons Glimmerstick in Blonde

Eyes-
Wet'n'Wild Vanity palette
Physicians Formula Black Gel liner
Jordana's Best Lash Extreme Mascara

Lips-
Milani's Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose

Products used:

Eyebrows-
Avon Glimmerstick in Blonde

Eyes-
Two Faced Shadow Insurance
Milani Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose
Wet'n'Wild I Dream of Greenie palette
NYX single shadow in Chic
NYX single shadow in Red Head
NYX single shadow in Kiwi
NYX single shadow in Exotic Green
Physicians Formula Black Gel liner Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara

Growing out a pixie cut: in between hair styles

Anyone who's grown out there hair- whether its from a pixie cut, a short bob or even bangs, knows the growing out process is not fun. You spend 50% your time trying to figure out how to get your hair to grow faster, and then the other 50% trying to camouflage the awkward in-between stages while you wait to reach your goal.
Whether you realize it or not, there is a lot you can do with your hair while its growing to help with the painful process.  From headbands to braids, styling your hair in the growing out phase is essential to sticking to your guns and braving through the gawky stages. Here are some inspiration for styles you can try while growing out your hair from a pixie cut. Obviously I'm not a hair authority, so there are a million more things you could try. But these are just a few that worked for me.

1. Headbands 

Keeping my hair off my face

Where it all started

I started growing out my hair in Feb. 2010. It was very short and incredibly damaged, and there wasnt much I could do with it besides style it the way it was cut. So I started throwing headbands in my hair every chance I got. Plain ones, decorated ones, whatever matched my outfits and mood. It didnt change the fact that my hair was short, but it helped me feel like I was able to have a few options besides my plain pixie. 

2. Embracing your natural texture

Over the course of growing out my hair, one of the easiest ways to change my look was to go back to basics and let my curly hair be curly. It was hard, especially when you're hair is very short, curly hair can feel like you're walking into Golden Girls territory. I felt like the secret for me was to diffuse my hair with a blow dryer to add lift, while keeping my hair smooth with gel. It helped keep my hair bouncy and shiny without looking like a poodle.

3. Pull your hair back.

butterfly clips for a baby poof

Bobby pin central

Curly and pulled back

Whittle bitty ponytail

 

Slightly longer pony and a headband

Even if your hair is to short for a ponytail (like mine was in the first picture), you can play with pulling it back. Pull back your bangs, or create a poof at your crown with butterfly clips. Experiment with what works for your hair. Once my hair was long enough I pulled it into baby ponytails a lot. Maybe it looked silly, but I was proud that it had finally grown long enough!

Another option is to use bobby pins, and lots of them. When your hair is short it can be hard to get a bobby pin to hold anything back, but with a little practice, you can create some cute styles. A little hairspray and texturizing spray can help keep pieces that are to short under control.

4. Change your part. 

  

Its a simple thing, but makes a big difference. Changing your part can add body and lift if your hair is a little flat, plus it can help hide awkward layers as they grow.

5. Try some braids

My meager braiding attempt

Admittedly, I'm not very good at braids. Now that my hair is longer I'm getting better- but when my hair was short I was rubbish. I wish I had played with braiding more when my hair was short- its such an easy way to spice up your bangs or create a pretty half up do. Use some bobby pins to pin short hairs in place if they arent long enough to stay in your braid.


6. Learn how to pin curl. Seriously. 

My first failed pin curl attempt

After finally getting the hang of it!

Pin curls seem intimidating, but they actually are quite easy. I learned from watching youtube turtorials (a good place to start is here and here.) Once I knew the basics, I did pin curls all the time on my short hair. Pin curls dont have to give you a super vintage feel either- you can really use the basis of pin curls to create volume, soft curl or full on Shirley Temple head.

Obviously the longer your hair grows, the more you can do- but dont let the length keep you from having fun. If you like wearing hats or scarfs, rock those on days you feel like your hair needs a little help. Dont focus to much on your desperate struggle for long hair and enjoy the time you have left with short hair. Play with it. Do things you always wanted to do but never had the guts to do before. This is your chance- so go for it!

Read my other posts on growing out your hair!

Growing out a pixie- Two years later!
Growing out a pixie- update
In-between hair styles and update
Growing out a pixie cut