Strange & Charmed

I recently just discovered a drugstore gem for instant relief of dry skin! The e.l.f. Daily Moisture Stick is an inexpensive miracle worker that, like its name suggests, is a stick of clear gel formulated with anti-aging components to moisturize the skin. When applied to the skin, either by direct application from the stick itself or by applying it with the fingers, a cooling burst of moisture instantly plumps dry skin, leaving the skin refreshed and soft. Some of the anti-aging ingredients include grape, shea, avocado, macadamia and aloe, however, instead of this product feeling oily and heavy as one might expect from the ingredients, it actually is quite light and refreshing and leaves no sticky residue whatsoever. What I love about this product is that it can be used on the face or the body and I have been using it for both. I have been applying the product via my fingers to my under eye area and directly to any dry patches on my face or body. The product has helped me greatly with a recent facial sunburn I was suffering from as the aloe helped cool my skin, keeping the burn area moist and refreshed.

I really have just been loving using this product and sort of feel like its a miracle worker of sorts! It feels so soothing and light on the skin and the moisture lasts a good while, although I have been using it repeatedly throughout the day because I love the way it makes my skin feel. Its one of those products that you can keep in your bag and use throughout the day at bathroom breaks to keep yourself looking and feeling refreshed. When applied under my eyes it sort of plumps up my under eye area which can sometimes look sallow a few hours after I apply my makeup. I am loving it for summer because it really helps to refresh the look of makeup that may begin to melt off in the heat. Just pat on the product with your fingertips to any areas where your makeup is beginning to look saggy and it peps it back up! It also works wonders on hands where you get that dry and dehydrated look. It really just fills dry skin with instant moisture that sticks and feels incredibly natural. For $6 there is really no reason not to try this Daily Moisture Stick from e.l.f. I picked mine up at Target, but you can buy it online from e.l.f directly.

Summer is here and one trend that seems to recycle itself year after year is the Maxi Dress! Although we have certainly seen these dresses before in all their iconic glory, from summer to summer the trends seem to change ever so slightly. Today, I want to talk to you about the maxi dress style, elements of it that stay the same year over year and the new elements that make Summer 2013 maxi dresses unique.

First of all, there are three main silhouettes that make up the basis of the maxi dress look. The kimono top, the bandeau, and the tank top. From season to season, these styles don’t change for the most part. The kimono top, as illustrated on the first dress, is a universally flattering top comprised of a short, wide sleeve and a v-neck. The bandeau, as seen on the second dress, is a strapless style that is often a little more casual because it lacks sleeves. Finally, the tank top style, seen in the last dress, is a versatile look that can include a variety of strap widths and a V or U style neckline. Depending on your personal preference you may gravitate to one or all of these maxi dress styles.

Now, let’s talk about the summer 2013 trends that make this years dresses stand out from previous seasons. I see three major trends happening in maxi dresses this year. First, as seen in the first dress is the ombre look where a solid color is used and fades from light to dark or dark to light. The ombre trend has been popular for a while now, so its no surprise to me that its now a prevalent style in dresses as well. The next trend I see for this summer is a mix of patterns, as illustrated in the second dress. Whether its a mix of a floral and a stripe, or a pattern and a solid, mixed and contrasting patterns are a big trend this summer season. The final trend I see this season in maxi dresses is geometry as seen in the third dress above. Whether its color blocking or asymmetry, geometry is playing a big role in fashion this summer and it has many faces that make it edgy and on trend.

So, have you picked up any new maxi dresses for this summer? If so, are they part of the summer 2013 trends? Please share in the comments!

I have been on again, off again with beauty subscription services. There are loads of them out there that offer a variety of products from beauty product samples to full sized makeup products to clothing and shoes! You may already be familiar with Birchbox or Glossybox, two of the more popular sites, but others include Beauty Army, JustFab, and ShoeDazzle. Since I was interested in setting myself up with a subscription, I did a lot of research on the types of products you get from each company and the price associated with it. Last year, for a short period I had subscribed to ShoeDazzle but canceled my membership realizing that I wasn’t so interested in getting a new handbag or pair of shoes each month for the hefty $50+ dollars I was being charged for the service. I did like the items, don’t get me wrong, they were very stylish and the quality was decent, but did I really need a new handbag every month, or a new pair of shoes EVERY month? I did not! So, I jumped off the subscription service band wagon for a bit.

Of course, Spring hit again this year and I suddenly felt the need for new accessories and makeup! So, I began researching the popular beauty subscriptions, deciding that $10 a month for some beauty items was more feasible. However, I didn’t want to pay $10 a month for foil samples of hand lotion and mini bottles of perfume that I could get for free at any department store counter. So, I ended up choosing Ipsy and the My Glam Bag service. What drew me to Ipsy was the number of quality large sized samples or full sized products I saw their customers receive month after month. With Ipsy, each month you get a trendy little makeup bag filled with 3-5 products that have been customized to your beauty needs, preferences and colors. They offer a range of beauty products, from makeup, perfume, skincare, lotions, and hair products! You tell Ipsy your style and what types of items you want and they try to stay within your parameters. So far I have received one bag and it was filled with items that I actually LOVED! And the value of the bag was close to $60 and filled with multiple full sized items and large samples. You can see what I got in my bag in the video above! Overall, you can say I am very happy so far with my Ipsy subscription and I can’t wait to see what I get in June’s bag!

If you are interested in the Ipsy service, visit them online here.

For the record, this is not a sponsored post, I paid for my Ipsy subscription myself and have not been contacted by the company at this point in time. All opinions are my own and I hope you appreciate my honesty!

I really love Forever 21 because all of their products are affordably priced and trendy! I particularly love their jewelry because its soooo inexpensive! So, I just picked up a few cute pieces that I found at my local Forever 21 store!

The first piece that caught my eye was this twisted stud cuff that cost $5.80! I have been trying to build up my collection of bracelets and cuffs. I love silver and this pointed stud design is very edgy. Most of my current jewelry is rather girly, so I thought this harder look would be an awesome compliment to balance out my usual style.

The next item I bought was this set of two camden cross cuffs for $5.80. I like the mix of silver and gunmetal because, again, its more of an edgy look, but these are also simple enough to be worn with a lighter style as well.

Together, I definitely think these cuffs are awesome and edgy and will definitely compliment my wardrobe for the remainder of the Spring and carry me through Summer as well!

The next item I picked up was this long black and crystal Eiffel Tower necklace for $2.80. Yes, $2.80! That is precisely why I love Forever 21 Jewelry! Heck! It may not be the best quality, but for trendy items that you will wear for a season or two and then discard, you can’t beat the price! I love Paris, so I just had to pick this necklace up! I think I will wear it layered with some other short and dainty necklaces.

Okay, so, did I mention I am really into edgy style and accessories?!? I have never owned a two finger ring before and I was not thrilled that this is gold and not silver, but this mint two finger ring is pretty awesome and actually more comfortable than I could have expected. Again $2.80, so it was a no brainer!

I mustache you a question, but I’ll shave it for later! Okay, okay, this trio of novelty mustache rings may seem frivolous, but for $4.80 for the set of three, I COULD NOT RESIST! I love collecting mustache items, its so hipster, I know, but I can’t help myself! And I WILL wear these, probably with my other mustache ring…

Seriously though, what’s not to love about these rings? They are pretty unique and definitely a conversation starter. I love little accessories that are simple but interesting when you get together in a group.

So, this next ring is a little less interesting but no less unique with its Spike Ends for another $2.80. This ring should do well with my new cuffs, particularly the twisted stud cuff!

Overall, I think my Forever 21 Jewelry Haul was quite successful. I spent a few bucks but definitely picked up a bunch of items I will wear over and over again in the upcoming months! So, did you see anything that you liked from my haul? Or perhaps you have a few of these items yourself. Let me know what you think and how you wear your pieces for summer. Leave a comment below!