My Etsy Wishlist !

I love Esty.  Love is an understatement!  I am obsessed with it.  You can find so many cool gadgets and beautiful jewelry and so much more.  I currently have an Esty wishlist and wanted to share with you all.   Do you do this?  I favorite something and one by one I buy the items on my list.  About every paycheck I buy myself something off the list.  And sometimes when I've had a really crappy week or if I feel like I deserve more I buy two things!  This is also a great thing to share with loved ones or family during the holidays.  They can just get you something right off the list.  

 A "Celine" Shirt

 A Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Tee

 Chalcedony Ring

Hammered Bangles  

Rose Gold Evil Eye Necklace 

 And for the Shop Crystal Quartz Pendants

What is on your Esty wishlist?  And if you have never been on the website you must go right now.  You can spend hours just searching through all the amazing shops.  And don't forget to stop by mine!

So I am back at school today and I feel the need to rant, not about school but about peoples perceptions.  When I tell someone I go to FIT they go oh how nice, what do you design.  Or something along those lines.  Not everyone that goes to FIT is a designer.  There are many different majors.  And I am not trying to knock people who are is design, they have a ton of work and I commend them.  But, people get with it.  Not everyone is a designer.  There are lots of other branches of fashion.  It just becomes annoying to tell people all the time like no sorry I don't go to school for design, I go to school for merchandising.  Anyway, rant end.  Just had to get that off my chest. 

Love, 

City Styles 

Take a Good Look in the EYE !

If you are a makeup junkie like myself then you too probably have a crap ton of brushes.  I have way too many, but I tend to gravitate towards certain ones.  They are my tried and true.  They always make my eye makeup look the best.  And I truly believe you all need these in your life. 

 MAC 213 & MAC 239 & Royal & Langnickel BC411 - These are both GREAT eye shader brushes! I use these for all over color.  And you can even use the 213 for some crease work.  If you are just starting off the R&L is definitely a cheaper version of the MAC ones.  It works just as well and to be honest I use it more because the brush is larger and covers more eyelid area. 

 MAC 217 & Bdellium Tools 776 - I could not live life without a blending brush.  I actually have two Mac 217's.  They are the most amazing thing ever!  I think that you cant leave home without blending your crease.  The Bdellium Tools brush is almost an exact dupe for the MAC one.  I picked it up at IMATS and have been loving it ever since.  I love having an extra blending brush around to just buff out your shadows.  They always come in handy. 

Chanel #19 & Bdellium Tools 781 - I love these both for precision crease work.  I also love them for pop coloring on the outer corner of my eye.  They place color exactly where you need.  I also use the Bdellium Tools brush to darken my crease and make it more exact.

Royal & Langnickel BC430 & Sonia Kashuk 109 - These brushes are amazing!  I love using them to blend out my crease color or to pop on my highlight color.  The R&L brush is really amazing for crease work.  It is tapered so nicely and can really work into and blend out your crease color.  Have you noticed that I love blending brushes?  I have an obsession with crease work.

MAC 219 - This is great for depositing color under the eye.  I love a smoked out look and use this everyday.  It has stayed nice and stiff through out many washes.  Which is great because my Sigma ones have become way to fluffed out. 

Sorry for showing dirty brushes, but I am a bad girl and do not wash them too often. 

What are your favorite brushes?  I would love to know and check them out! 

Yesterday was my first day back to school.  Womp Womp.  I am not exactly the biggest school enthusiast.  I think college is necessary, but not for all.  I will one day have my bachelors.  When that day will be I am not sure.  Anyone want to go to school for me! Ha! 

Anywho I am working on some great new pieces for my etsy shop and wanted to share. 

They will be in the shop soon! And I can't wait to show you all of them! So stay tuned!

Love, 

City Styles

P.S.  - These are all my eye brushes!

Bronzing Cream + Who Else Wants a Reunion !

I don't know about you but I get very upset when a beauty product is available in another country, but not available in the US.  I tend to want it more because it is hard to get.  That's what happened with the Bourjois Bronzing Primer.  If you don't know Bourjois is the parent company to Chanel.   And guess what Chanel makes?  A cream bronzer that is almost identical and more expensive.   So I went on the hunt!  I found mine in Ebay and paid about $20 with shipping.  I was very pleased with that.

I use my bronzer with a Real Techniques contour brush.  It works so well and just glides on the face.  The bronzer is great for a day when you just want to look sun kissed.  If you are going more for a contoured, hallowed out look then you should set it with a powder bronzer.  I have been loving this for the summer time and I will probably use it throughout the fall.  I have very dry skin and this leaves a beautiful dewy finish.  It doesn't dry into a powder and I love using this with a cream blush as well.  

Have you tried the Bourjois or Chanel bronzers??  If you have let me know what you think!

Oh so yesterday I forgot to discuss the VMA's with you all.  First, what is wrong with Miley Cyrus?  That's all I have to say about that.  Secondly, Oh Justin how we love you so.  And thirdly, N*SYNC!!  I squealed like a little girl.  Tears formed in my eyes.  I have waited for this for years and I truly thought it would never happen.  Even though it was only a minute it was a minute that I will remember.  Now come on!  Do a reunion tour already!!

Love, 

City Styles

Sunday Funday !

So this past Sunday my friends and I went to brunch at Pranna.  We had a nice time drinking and dancing, but I won't be day drinking again! I had a massive headache later on in the day.  Too many Bellini's for me.



Now remember yesterday how I said I was disappointed in the Marc Jacobs concealer.  I truly am!  For $39 it just didn't do the job for me. It was way to sheer and not enough of the product was able to come out of the spout.  It also didn't last all day and made my mascara transfer.  I loved how sleek it looked, but tomorrow it will be returned to Sephora. 

Have you tried the Marc Jacobs concealer?  What are your thoughts?

Love, 

City Styles

Holy Grails aka Amazball Products!

I have to say over the past four or so years I have tried many products, but I have honed in on the ones that I love the most!  Everyone has different products that they repurchase over and over again but these are mine!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Love this stuff!!! They need to bring this to the states now!! It is more of a gel texture and just goes on so smoothly and stays perfectly all day.  It does oxidize a little bit on my, but to be honest I don't mind.   It doesn't cling to my dry patches and gives me a great glow throughout the day.

Lorac Eye Primer

I have about 2 tubes of this left.  I started out with about four.  I have used many other eye primers but this ones dries to a nice powdery texture and makes my eyeshadow last all day and it never creases on me.  I have started to use this under my concealer too.  It works like a charm!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

If you have read about my morning skincare routine then you know how I feel about this.  It is just amazing and would never go a day without it.

Urban Decay Shadow in Naked

My ultimate crease/blending color.  I have loved this color ever since I purchased the Naked palette many moons ago.  I loved it so much I bought a single to travel with.  I use this as my crease color and blending color and even as a brow powder.  For me its a multipurpose product and I love that.  

Milani Blush in Luminoso

This is like a cult favorite on Youtube.  And I totally understand why.  It gives you the most amazing glow ever.  It looks so natural.  When I am not sure what blush to use I always go for this.  It is a no brainer on days I want a natural flush or when I am running out the door.

Armani Corrector

A god send!!  I can be a very horrible sleeper sometimes.  I have those nights where my brain just will not shut off and the next morning I horrible under eye circles.  This counter acts any of my purple/blue circles.  I use this everyday and can't thank Lisa enough for introducing me to this.

Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua

Oh Chanel!  This was my first purchase from Chanel and will probably the one item I will buy over and over again.  If you aren't into fragrant foundations don't even try Chanel.  I just happen to love the smell.  I am not one for a full coverage foundation, and this is perfect.  It is more of a medium, buildable foundation.  It is so sheer and light, you hardly feel like you have anything on. 

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes

This happens to be my favorite high end mascara.  I am trying something new now that I might like more, but that will be another post.  Anyway, this makes my lashes look nice and long and is perfect to layer with other mascaras.  Plus, it doesn't flake or transfer.

L'oreal Telescopic Shocking Mascara

And this happens to be my favorite drugstore mascara.  Love this!  It make my lashes look like I am wearing falsies.  I love layering this with the Tarte one.  This also doesn't flake or transfer.

Bioderma 

Oh my love!  This also needs to come to the states asap!  This hands down is one of the best solutions for taking off makeup.  It does not feel oily and doesn't leave any residue behind.  I have never had any trouble with it taking off mascara.  It just does wonders!

What are your holy grail, amazball items?   

Love, 

City Styles

A Day Off

I sometimes love having weekdays off.  The city is busy, but not as busy as it would be if it was the weekend.  I met the BFF for some shopping at Columbus Circle.  I didn't pick up much, just a sweater from H&M.  I also got some goodies for when I start selling my jewelry at school.  If you didn't know I go to FIT.  Every Thursday they have a jewelry fair and I have decided that this year I am going to sell my jewelry.  I do not have all the logistics yet, but when I do I will let y'all know.  

Anywho, it was nice seeing the BFF since it's been like a week and a half.  We were having withdrawal symptoms.  And school starts back up again next week so there goes our shopping dates (haha yea right).  Is anyone else depressed that school starts next week?  I love shopping for school supplies and clothes, the actual school part not so much.  

Well back to today.  We went to Sephora and I swatched the new Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo.  I  have heard some many good things about them I needed to check it out.  I didn't pick any up this trip, but I might have to go back and get the first one. 

Sans Flash 

With Flash

Since we were out and about I asked Daria to take some pics of me.  I need to get better at posting my outfits.  I ask the boyfriend all the time, but he hates taking pictures for me (I can be very critical of his photography skills).  I am going to have to bribe him pretty soon! 

{Top-F21, Jeans-H&M, Bag-H&M, Shoes-Steve Madden} 

I am going to finish enjoying my day off with a cup of tea and some good/trashy tv.  Hope you all have a great night!

Love, 

City Styles

Skincare Edition: Morning Routine

I have been known to be the girl that sleeps in her makeup and secretly doesn't really care if others may gasp at that fact.  But, I have realized that the more I take care of my skin the better it looks.  Yes of course I still sleep in my makeup from time to time, but I have been getting better. 

I truly believe you need to take great care of your skin.  I have seen the effects of doing so.  I used to have very acne prone, dry skin.  I was never confident enough to walk out of the house without makeup on.  That's when I decided I need to get on the skincare band wagon.  I have set up a great morning and night routine that I want to share.

So Totally Clean Toner

I was totally drawn in by the packaging on this one.  I have tried many toners and have not been to happy with any of them.  Most leave my skin to dry.  But this!  This one is amazing.  It smells so good too.  I put a quarter size amount on a cotton round and apply all over my face.  This gets rid of all my nasty oils from my nights sleep and makes me feel refreshed. 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum  

My HOLY GRAIL!! This is amazballs!  I can't say enough good things about this.  I first got a sample of this in a 500 pt perk at Sephora and was instantly hooked.  It has helped my skin improve 100%.  I put this on before my moisturizer, because it helps my moisturizer sink in more.  It has also helped with my redness.  I have always had red cheeks, and I mean always.  But, since I have been using this serum my redness has dramatically reduced.  I could never go a day without this!  I truly would recommend this to anyone and everyone!

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 

Now I will tell you I have extremely, extremely dry skin!! No matter how humid or hot it may be, my skin needs a whole ton of moisture.  I have tried so many moisturizers.  Most do not hold up for me.  But, these two moisturizers do!  They are both light weight and extremely moisturizing.  I choose from day to day which one I want to use, I truly don't have a preference of which one I like more.

What are your skincare essentials?  I would love to know!  I always like hearing about the new latest and greatest!

Love, 

City Styles

P.S. - Don't forget everything in my etsy shop is still 50% off.  Use code 50OFF during checkout!

My Hair Journey

I don't know about you but I have changed my hair color and length a whole lot since I was 16.  I have had the longest hair to the shortest hair and the darkest brown to light blonde.  When I get bored I change my hair.  It is much cheaper and easier then getting a tattoo! 

LENGTH  

2007 - Age 16

2008 - Age 17 

2009 - Age 18 

2010 - Age 19 

2011 - Age 20 

2012 - Age 21 

2013 - Age 22

I have to say I love cutting my long hair short.  When I say short I mean shoulder length.  I hated that 2010 hair cut.  It took me years to grow out!  3 to be exact!  I just cut it last week for the first time in over a year!  It feels so good and refreshing to get a hair cut.  What about you?  What has been your favorite hair length?

COLOR

My actual hair color!

At my darkest 

Again at my darkest 

A little lighter ( just before I went blonde) 

Red!

Red again! (wonderful picture Gina)

Light Brown 

Blonde (color I am today) 

I would say I love to color my hair and try different shades!  Now I would never color my hair a color of the rainbow but I would say that I am adventurous.  What about you?  What is the craziest color you have ever dyed your hair?  

Also I have always dyed my hair at home.  I am totally not into paying crazy salon prices.  I just use the Garnier or Natural Instincts from the drugstore.  But, when I went blonde Daria's sister did it for me.  She is training to be a colorist so I said "dye my hair please!"

I have to say for the number of times I have dyed my hair, it is actually very healthy.  That is because I take care of it.  That is the key!  I use a mask once a week and I use sulfur free shampoo (another post to come). 

Let me know what your favorite length & color is on me !

Love, 

City Styles