House Beautiful

Archive for the 'Beauty' Category

Fave Beauty Finds!

Breaking down my faves today, because I can’t mentally sift through the “Top 100 Beauty Products”-type of spreads in magazines, and also because I know so much of that content is in there because X magazine has a good working relationship with Y skincare company… same with some of the blogs I troll for things like this – they’re also often sponsored content (which means the makers of the products pay a fee to have the bloggers include their jazz in a post), so I never know if people have actually used and would recommend them, or if someone just paid them to say they love em. The truth is, Karrie & I are too lazy aka busy to finagle sponsorships & such – and also, we’re both product snobs.  So these picks are my legit tried & true, can’t-live-without-em beauty faves.  Hope some of them work for you too!

1 – ARCONA WINE OIL, $58.  Literally the only thing that gets my face through a Colorado winter. Smells like cloves, feels like your skin just drank a gallon of water as soon as you put it on.  I used to use Arcona products exclusively, but have since switcheroo’d my daily regime over to R+F.

2 – RODAN + FIELDS REDEFINE REGIMEN, $208.  I’ve been a happy Arcona customer for years, but my beloved cousin Jill (also a R+F rep) gave me this regimen as a wedding shower gift, so I gave it a whirl.

The first day I was like: “Neat! It smells like clean laundry and feels nice on my face. Who knows if it does anything?” – but I took a before + after photo and TWO WEEKS LATER the texture and tone of my skin was completely different.  And I (thought) I had good skin before.  Consider me converted.

PS: these pics are NOT becoming b/c I obviously have no makeup on and took them (basically while I was still asleep and stuck my face in the natural sunlight), but LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE.  Two weeks, people. if you’re interested in trying R+F, give my cousin/more-like-a-sister, Jill, a holler: jillhouser78.myrandf.com – …sidenote, see #6 for a good eyebrow-plumper-upper.

3 – DOMINO SUGAR, $2.50.  Cheapest & best exfoliant on the market, IMO.  Definitely messy & sticky if you don’t rinse out the tub or shower after you’re done, but if you have a few extra minutes in the shower every other day to give yourself a nice scrub with a handful of this + body oil, your skin will literally feel like butter.  Actual sweet cream, melted butter.  You do have to be thorough – I do a heaping handful of sugar for each limb – go slowly, in a circular motion, and polish your crusty winter skin to perfection.  The important thing about exfoliating is that you gotta do it if you want your lotion / moisturizer to soak in. Because it can’t penetrate a layer of scales on its own. Speaking of exfoliant, I still need to go shopping for a cleanser.

4 – NYX Golden Olive Eyeliner, $7.78.  One of those things I randomly picked up at a Walgreens 10 years ago or so.  It’s the perfect shade, imo – kind of charcoal-y but with a warm brown/green tint.  Goes on nice & smooth, and blends easily.

5 – Goe Oil, $49.  Does the same thing for my hands in the Winter or in dry climates as Wine Oil does for my face.  Spendy but worth every penny.  Also available at Anthro.

6 – Lise Watier Volumizing Eyebrow Fiber Gel, $23.  Remember the time I went bananas with a pair of tweezers when I was 15 and then my eyebrows LITERALLY NEVER GREW BACK?  I mean seriously.  Of all the things we ladies *cough* pluck, tweeze & wax, this is the one thing that doesn’t come back?  It’s sadly a doodle that can’t be undid.  Anyway – since I’ll clearly never have my old Brooke Shields brows from the 90’s back, I use this stuff to plump them up.  I’ve tried lots of others – including NARS – but none are as good as this guy.  The makeup artist from the Bravo show I did earlier this year (What up, Mario!) turned me onto it.  Next-best thing to Microblading.

7 – Naked Eyeshadow Palette by Urban Decay, $27.  Karrie turned me onto this a year or so ago and it’s the only eyeshadow palette I’ll ever need.  Retails for $54 on some other sites so this is a bargain.

8 – Estée Lauder “Rich Red” Lipstick, $35+.  My bad because when I went to look this up, I just realized it’s been discontinued.  SACRE BLEU!  It’s still available from a few sellers on eBay though.  PS this is what I wore on Thanksgiving this year.  It goes on like velvet.

I also love Boots No. 7 “Love Red,” which has a nice blue undertone, but it’s also super elusive.  You’re welcome for absolutely nothing on this one!

9 – Glo Lip Balm, $16.  One of my clients sent me this in a Christmas Gift a few years ago and I’ve never gone back.  Instant relief the second you put it on, and I love the chunky size – means it’s far less likely to get lost in the bottom of my bag.

10 – Dazzle Dry Nail Color, $18.  There’s about 1 whole mani-pedi gal in Crested Butte, and she’s the one who turned me onto this.  Listen, I love a gel mani as much as the next girl, but what I don’t love is how after 2 rounds of gel, if I take it off, my fingernails are so paper thin that they actually bend backwards when I’m washing my hair in the shower.  Ouch.  Dazzle Dry isn’t gel, but it’s just about as tough.  My color stayed on for ALMOST TWO WEEKS last time I had it done.  Hardly any nail salons carry it, but you can put your zip code in and check on Dazzle Dry’s website, or just grab a bottle and DIY at home or hand it to your nail tech to use during your next mani.

11 – Bionic Powerlight Blow Dryer, $99.  Better than the Dyson blow dryer, and for about 1/4 of the price.  Best hair dryer I’ve ever had.

12 – Kérastase L’Huile Originale, $31.99.  Delightful, subtle scent, and one of the only things I’ve ever found that tames my frizz without putting a damper on my hair’s body.

Other than (actual products), I will say the best my hair ever looks is when I cut back on heat styling (trying to limit myself to 1x/week), and the best my skin EVER looks is when I cut gluten, dairy & alcohol and drink tons of water.

What are your faves??

xoxo,

Karrie’s 2016 Chreeshmosh Gift Guide

karrie's christmas gift guide

You know, it seems wrong to put together a superficial, materialistic holiday gift guide for myself because I know it’s been a tough couple of wee– oh please, who am I kidding… I’m as materialistic as they come and no Earth-shatteringly depressing news can hold me back.  So here goes – MY wishlist for this holiday season. Hooray!:

BOOKS: It wouldn’t be a Holiday Gift Guide without a sweet new tome from our favorite goddess, Ina Garten. The fact that she dedicated a book to her precious hubby Jeffrey just makes me feel all warm inside. Now, throw in a glorious picture book of never-before-seen Bowie shots, the newest Domino book and the book of Bill Murray, and I’m set:

Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

{From top left: David Bowie: Behind the Curtain | Ina Garten’s newest book, Cooking For Jeffrey (I really hope there is a 2016 version of his beloved roast chicken recipe) | Domino’s second book in (6?) years(!) | The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray}

HOME DECOR FOR THE HOLIDAYS!: Yes, I’m aware that some people whose names rhyme with Peph think I’m pathetic for wanting holiday pillows, and I’m aware that these are a tad pricey but look how cute they are! I can hear Andy Williams singing in the background, I can smell the Frasier Fir in my entryway; basically all is right when I look at these pillows.

Pottery Barn Pillows | Covet Living Xmas Gift Guide

{From top left: Road Trip Santa, $55 | Christmas Tree, $69.50 | Woody Car, $55 | Sleigh Bell, $69.50}

A RAD NEW WAY TO WORK OUT: Say hello to your new friends – toned arms – thanks to The Burn Machine. I’ve been wanting this bad boy for months (the 5-lb version!) ever since my friend sung its praises. All you do is stand there, turn the wheels, and it rips your arms/shoulders to toned glory. I could see this being a great gift for the man in your life, too. Get it here.

Burn Machine | Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

A PIECE OF ART I’VE BEEN WANTING FOR, OH, MONTHS: There’s something really calming about this print on One Kings Lane, and I think the colors are beautiful. *Cough* Currently on sale, too!:

One Kings Lane | Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

CUTE CLOTHES MMMHMMM: I’m a total sucker for cute, inexpensive finds and have even posted about a couple of these below. Yet I haven’t bought them for myself yet. Which means… Santa, throw a sista a bone:

Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

{From top left: Brenda Twill Top, $48 | Piper jeggings, $38 | Skinny Fit Overalls, $53 | Black Houndstooth Print Bell Sleeve Dress, $20.99}

PAJAMAS: Santa, do my husband a solid and please bring me a cute pair of PJs. I feel badly that he only sees me in sleepwear that’s disgusting with a hole in the crotch, or given to me by my mom after she found them in a Goodwill:

Victoria's Secret

{Left: Eberjey Gisele Sleep Shirt | Right: Victoria’s Secret Sleepover Knit Pajamas}

JEWELRY THAT’S FOR A GOOD CAUSE – I’ve previously posted about this line of jewelry made by women who’ve gone through very tough times, and I’ll sing it again: There are so many simple, pretty pieces here that are quite on trend(!). But most importantly this jewelry is helping to make the world a little bit better:

Fashionable Jewelry

{Clockwise from top left: Ear Arch, $24 | Cuff Ring, $34 | Hammered Circle Earrings, $30 | X Ring, $34}

TWO BOMBA** LIPSTICKS I LOVE:

Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

{Left: Bobbi Brown Hot Raspberry | Right: Mac Rebel in Satin Lipstick}

A COUPLE PAIRS OF SLIP-ONS PERFECT FOR WORK AND/OR EVERYDAY WEAR:

Covet Living Gift Guide 2016

{Left: Asos Slip On Loafer | Right: ‘Chandy’ Loafer}

A CAMERA TO TAKE RUHL PURDY PICS FOR OUR BLOG: This Canon camera is one of the cameras used by Sarah Tucker, a fellow blogger I know who actually helped set up my wedding the day of. She has gorgeous taste and I just lurv her pics:

Canon 60D

Rent the Runway Unlimited

ONE MONTH OF RENT THE RUNWAY UNLIMITED: Y’all know we’re obsessed with Rent the Runway, but have you heard of Rent the Runway Unlimited?! Basically it’s a subscription service that lets you pick three things at a time from Rent the Runway (dresses, sweaters, purses, etc) and keep them for however long you want. When you’re done with any or all three items, you repack the garment bag and ship them back to RTR for free! And you can swap those items as often as you want and have a bunch of new goodies throughout the month. A month’s subscription is $139 which might seem pricey, but just think: You’re able to get quite a few pieces each month that would usually costs sometimes up to thousands of dollars.

Ok. That’s all I can think of right now it for now! Happy Holidays, you filthy animals!

xoxo,

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