Holiday Glitter Beauty Tutorial with Swell Beauty

A Make Up How-To Featuring MAC's Gold Glitter Pigment

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Dee of Swell Beauty for an extra sparkly beauty tutorial, perfect for your next holiday or NYE bash! If you haven't seen the other tutorials or collaborations I've done with Dee, check out this edgy faux hawk braid or contouring tutorial and 16th Colony's 'Goddess of Mystery' shoot in Joshua Tree. Here are the beauty products you will need to achieve the holiday glitter glam look (shown in the order of use, some products can be substituted by what you already own):

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer $26

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Bare Study $21

MAC Gold Glitter Pigment in the Objects of Affection Gold + Beige Pigments + Glitter $35

MAC Eye Shadow in Sketch $16

MAC Tinted Lipglass in Prrr $15

Stila Eye Shadow in Bare (or your own matte ivory shade) in the In The Light Palette $20 (sale price on 12/23/14) and in Ebony (or your own matte shade to match your eye brows)

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Nior $24 (or your own black eye liner)

Ardell Natural Lash in Black #108 $3.99 with Duo Lash Adhesive in Dark $5.99

Dior Addict-It Lash Mascara in Black $26

Makeup Forever HD Foundation (or your own) $42

Anastasia Contour Kit (or your own) $40

MAC Powder Blush in Peaches (or your own) $22

Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray (or your own setting spray) $29-$39

Holiday Glitter Beauty Tutorial in 15 Steps:
1. Apply Benefit's stay don't stray primer on the eyelids up to brow bone
2: Apply MAC's Paint Pot in Bare Study all over eyelids, this will allow for the glitter pigment to adhere to your eyelids when applied
3. Apply MAC's glitter pigment in gold over the bare study paint pot on the eyelids. If you can use a small flat surface like a business card to catch any loose glitter that doesn't stick to your eyelids. Or be sure that you don't have base make up or foundation on your face so you can easily wipe the loose glitter off with double sided tape or make up remover wipes.
4. Apply MAC's eye shadow Sketch in the crease and on the top & bottom lash line towards the outer sides of the eyes.
5. Apply Stila's Eye shadow in Bare or another Matte Ivory Shade to brow bone above the Sketch eye shadow and blend both colors together.
6. Apply Laura Mercier's Creme Liner in Noir  or another Black Eye Liner and create a soft wing to the lash line & apply to waterline.
7. Fill in Eyebrows with Stila's Ebony eye shadow or another matte eye shadow that matches your eye brow color.
8. Apply Ardell natural lashes in #108 . Use Dark tone Glue by Duo (secret to applying , make sure glue is 80% dry before applying to lash line)
9. Apply Dior Addict-It Mascara or your own black mascara to lashes once dry & in place
10.  Remove any glitter fallout below eyelids with make up remover wipes, face towelettes or with double sided tape.
11. Apply Makeup Forever's HD Foundation to your face or your own foundation
12. Use Anastasia's Contour kit to create a contoured face -highlight under the eyes, bridge on nose, upper lip & around the eyebrows . Apply darker shade to cheek bones & around the hair line on forehead.
13. Apply MAC's Blush in Peaches to the apples of your cheek.
14. Apply MAC's Lipglass in Prrr. 
15. To keep a long-lasting beauty look, mist your face with Skindinavia's The Makeup Finishing Spray or another setting spray.
Photography by Shawna of Bleudog Fotography

Christmas Wishlist Savings with Shopular

Five Last Minute Shopping Site Savings thanks to the Shopular App

This holiday season crept up on me so suddenly and I can't believe it'll be Christmas next week. With that said, I must admit that I haven't even begun my Christmas shopping. Thankfully for the app Shopular which I use for many of my discount shopping needs, I'm updated on a variety of stores that have great savings going on right now. While perusing the app for promotions and coupon codes, I found a few sites that caught my eye, which then led me to browse each site and find items that would be perfect on my Christmas Wishlist. I just moved and found cute decor that would be a great addition to my room, as well as amazing winter style steals; check out my five picks below:1. J.Crew- 40% off select winter styles or 30% off select full-priced items (exclusions apply and until December 21, 2014, 11:59pm) Use code 'GIFTNOW' or in-store
Wishlist Item: Double-Cloth Patch Pocket Cocoon Coat // Originally $365, On Sale $279.99, With Discount Code 'GIFTNOW' $167.99

2. Francesca's Collections- Buy 1 get 1 50% off Home & Gifts Items (exclusions apply and offer available for limited time, discount applied in check out cart for online purchases)
Wishlist Items: Teal Pom Pom Blanket // $58 and Stay in Bed Pillow // $22, With Promo $11

3. Steve Madden- Buy 1 get 1 50% off & Free Shipping (exclusions apply and until December 20, 2014) Use code 'PARTY' or in-store
Wishlist Items: Koraa Leather Bootie // $169.95 and Wackyy Glitter Platform// Originally $99.95, On Sale $89.99, With Discount Code 'PARTY' $45

4. Pier 1 Imports- 15-20% off on select sale & clearance items (exclusions apply and until December 22, 2014) Use code 'JOLLYHOLIDAY' or in-store coupon.
Wishlist Item: Hayworth Lingerie Chest // Originally $499.95, On Sale $449.99, With Code 'JOLLYHOLIDAY' $382.49

5. Old Navy- Up to 75% off in-store (on select styles and until December 24, 2014) or 25% off your order with code 'PRANCER' (restrictions apply and until December 20, 2014)
Wishlist Items: Cable-knit Pom Pom Cap // Originally $12.94, Now $8, with code 'PRANCER' $5 and 'Chic' Patterned Gloves // Originally $12.94, On Sale $8, with code 'PRANCER' $5

Please check with each store for restrictions and any questions you may have regarding their promotions. Prices above do not include tax and/or shipping. Click here for more on downloading the Shopular App. FFF was given monetary compensation to compose this post, all opinions expressed are of my own.

Holiday Shopping at South Coast Plaza

Get your holiday shopping done at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa

I had the wonderful opportunity of getting to toast the holiday season on one of the craziest holiday shopping days of the year, Black Friday, at South Coast Plaza's The Penthouse. I had been to the Penthouse Suite before for a shopping event with La Perla, and was fascinated to see how the space was turned into a festive, winter wonderland. Guests and the media were able to enjoy breakfast and lunch offerings, blood orange mimosas, coffee, and pampering amenities such as manicures by Lollipop Nail Studio, hand massages by Aveda, a hair refresh by Vidal Sassoon, mini makeovers by MAC, and flash tattoo applications. I grabbed sweet treats on the way out from the candy bar and also received an amazing SCP tote bag filled with goodies to survive Black Friday.

As expected, the shopping center was PACKED, and I window shopped, but didn't bother going inside stores. It looked like shoppers really took full advantage of Black Friday deals; if you're still looking to get gift shopping done, South Coast Plaza probably won't be as much of a frenzy as Black Friday and you have such a great selection of shops. Check out the beautiful ornament displays and Christmas tree in the shopping center as well!

Sweather Weather with J.Jill

Styling J.Jill's Textured Tweed Pullover Sweater

After checking out J.Jill's newly revamped location at the Shops at Mission Viejo, I was excited to get to bring home a few pieces to style for some so cal winter looks. The first was this black, grey, and white textured tweed pullover (in petite), which I got in a size medium for a drapier versus boxy look. I styled it over an a line dress that had a leather panel at the hem, and gave the look a pop up color with red heels. I have to be honest with you, I absolutely ADORE this sweater and have probably already worn it 6 or 7 times; with faux leather skinnies, jeans, leggings, you name it! It's such as cozy and versatile sweater and you can't go wrong with the neutral color palette. Sweater weather has arrived in OC and I am taking full advantage of it with this J.Jill sweater, get yours here (available in misses', petite, and women's sizing). Do you have a new or favorite sweater you've been wearing lately?

Sunglasses, Isaac Mizrahi
Textured Tweed Pullover Sweater, J.Jill
Dress, H&M
Selena Structured Vegan Leather Clutch, Daily Look 
Heels, GoJane
Photos taken by Trang Bui

16th Colony's Stevie Poncho in Goddess of Mystery

To transition from the first 16th Colony look from the Goddess of Mystery shoot featuring the Rumours Poncho, we moved into an earthier look with the Stevie Poncho layered over an embroidered dress, leather pants and boots. My already big hair was given an addition of all sorts of twigs, branches, flowers and other desert elements. This had to be one of my favorite looks because it had an almost nomadic wanderer, don't mess with me, kind of vibe; like I had no care in the world and was just roaming my domain, the vast desert landscape.

Wardrobe: 16th Colony
Photography: Renee Rodger of Hanger Shortage
Hair/MUA: Dee of Swell Beauty
Styling: Me
Location: Joshua Tree National Park