Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Midi Rings!

Hey everyone!  If you read my January Favorites post from yesterday (here), you know that I am totally, completely obsessed with midi rings!  I have been having so much fun layering them up to create fun looks that just seem to go with everything in my closet!

I got my rings at a variety of places, including Brandy Melville, Forever 21, and Nordstroms!






I found this adorable bird ring dish from World Market, perfect for housing all of my gold rings!



I hope you guys enjoyed this "ringspiration!"


xoxo
linds&bells

IFB Follow on Bloglovin

Monday, January 27, 2014

January Favorites!

Hello everyone!  I hope you have all had a fantastic start to 2014!  Can you believe its already January 27th?!  I can't!

This month I discovered some new (and old) favorites that I thought I would share with you all!



My first two favorites I rediscovered while going through and cleaning out my makeup collection.  I used to wear them all the time, but stopped for some reason! So when I found them in my drawers, I thought I would give them a go again!  I am talking about the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer and the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer.  When used together, they give the skin a beautiful healthy glow.  I also love the fact that the tinted moisturizer has an SPF of 20.  I use retinal a few times a week, making it important to wear sunscreen everyday!

They both have a dewy finish, so if you have oily skin or prefer a matte finish, I would not recommend either of these products.  However, Laura Mercier does make a regular, non "illuminating" tinted moisturizer that provides more of a matte finish.

The Tinted Moisturizer can be purchased here for $43.00 and the Radiance Primer can be purchased here for $32.00.

My next favorite is the Beauty Blender!  This non-disposable makeup sponge is amazing for applying foundation and concealer.  When you run it under water before using (squeezing out the excess water), it doubles in size and turns into a slightly damp sponge that applies makeup flawlessly.  I don't know what it is about the Beauty Blender exactly, but it really honestly works differently than other makeup sponges.  It creates an airbrush finish, and who doesn't want that?!

The shape, in part, is what makes this product so great.  The larger rounded end is perfect for applying foundation to larger areas, such as your cheeks, chin, and forehead, while the smaller angled tip is perfect for applying foundation and concealer to smaller and more delicate areas, such as the eye area and around the nose.  You can also use the Beauty Blender for applying loose powder and mineral cosmetics, making it very versatile!

Yes, they are pricey, and certainly more expensive than a drugstore makeup sponge, but it is well worth it.  Try it out, you won't regret it!  You can find them at Sephora (here) for $19.95 each.

My next January favorite I hauled a few posts ago in my Korean Skincare Haul!  This "Steam Cream" by Nature Republic is fantastic for dry and sensitive skin.  Its thick consistency paired with the Shea butter provides a deep level of moisture for dry skin.  I have been using this at night over my serums and wake up in the morning to glowing and hydrated skin.  Despite the thickness, it has not made me break out either!  The best part is its only $22.99 from most online retailers.  The actual Nature Republic Stores are hard to find, but you can find most of their products online.  This particular steam cream can be found here!

My next favorite, like the Laura Mercier makeup, I found when I was going through my makeup collection. It was a sample I'm pretty sure I received in a Glam Bag.  I tested it out with little hope and boy was I wrong.  It is AMAZING, like using it one time and noticing a difference right away amazing.  It seriously makes my lips so smooth and hydrated, especially in winter when my lips tend to get dry and chapped.  It has a very thick consistency, so I have just been using it at night before bed.  When I run out, this will be a definite repurchase!  And if you don't just take my word for it, it has 347 five star reviews online!  You can find it here for $12.00.

My next favorite I got as a deluxe 500 point gift from Sephora, along with a few other Caudalie products.  Being a bit serum obsessed (to put it lightly), I couldn't wait to test this out!  I have used it for a few weeks, only using a few drops at a time, and it provides great hydration and radiance to my skin.  It sinks into the skin very fast and did not make me break out.  I have been using this in conjunction with my Kate Somerville Dilo Oil and love the two together.

I also love the packaging of the product, as the dropper allows you to be very precise with how much of the serum you want.  If you are interested in trying this out, you can find it here for $79.00.

My next January favorite is an eye cream by the French skincare line "Ioma."  I picked this up at Saks Fifth Avenue and have used it off and on, but just recently have really been committed to using it everyday.  What makes it unique is that it has snake venom in it, weird right?!  So when I apply it, I immediately feel a tightening and slight tingling sensation-but in my mind that means its working...right?!  When I use this product, my eye area is hydrated, and my eyes look overall more awake and refreshed.  If you suffer from dehydration lines or wrinkles around your eyes and want to treat yourself, try this eye cream.

Also, if you go into Saks Fifth Avenue, some Ioma Counters have their "Sphere" device, which is essentially a face analyzer machine- yes, it analyzes skin texture, how many wrinkles you have, how big your pores are, UV damage, and redness.  Sounds scary....  BUT on the plus side, it allows you to see what areas you need to work on, and they recommend which products are best suited for you!  Then the cool part is a few weeks later, after upping your skincare routine with specific products, you can go back in and get your face re-analyzed and see how much it has improved!  It even prints out pictures for you!  Pretty awesome right?!  Ioma clearly stands behind their products, and their willing to prove it with their unique technology!  If you are interested in getting your skin analyzed by the Ioma Sphere, click here for more information and to find a location near you.

This eye cream definitely is a pricey pick, but seeing as I only use a small dab each time, I think it will last me quite awhile! If you are interested in this product, you can find it here for $110.00

My next January Favorite I'm not going to go into too much detail (post coming tomorrow), but basically I have been obsessing over gold rings- and lots of them.  I love wearing four, or five, or ten rings and midi rings (!!) at a time, layering them up on all my fingers!  I also found this adorable bird ring dish from World Market, perfect for housing all of them.

My last January Favorite is this awesome Jonathan Adler Jewelry travel case from Nordstrom!  Its absolutely perfect for traveling, and allows you to keep all of your bits and baubles safe and secure during travel.  It even has spots meant for earrings and rings!  Totally in love with this.  Not to mention its monogrammed too!







I hope you all enjoyed this post!   Let me know what you are loving so far in 2014!

Also, the GLAM BAG giveaway winners, please email me for your prizes :)
lindsandbells@gmail.com

Stay tuned for a philosophy and EOS lip balm giveaway!

xoxo
linds&bells

IFB Follow on Bloglovin

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Blue Lips?!

Hey everyone!   I hope you are all having a great week!  Lately I have seen many makeup artists creating blue lips and I was inspired to try it out myself!  What do you guys think?!  Would you wear this look?

I know it definitely is different but I am liking it!  I wanted to keep the lips the focal point so I did softer eyes with lots of lashes!  I think I will be rocking this blue lip trend into spring!

Hope you enjoyed this blue lip inspiration!
xoxo
linds&bells


IFB Follow on Bloglovin

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

January Glam Bag + Giveaway

Hello everyone!  It's that time of the month again to show you all my January Glam Bag by Ipsy!  If you aren't familiar with this company, for $10.00 a month, they send you a bag full of personalized beauty products!  Some are deluxe sample sizes, while others are full size, making the $10.00 price tag completely worth it!  Want to see what I got in mine and have the chance to win it?!  Keep reading!


Every month it is such a treat when I see this pretty pink package in my mailbox!  And I want to give one of you a chance to experience the same thing!   If you would like to win everything from my January Glam Bag, make sure to follow my blog and simply leave a comment below!  I will randomly select a winner!  The giveaway will close January 22nd and for this particular one, it is limited to USA residents only. (PS, products were used only for swatches!)

On to what I got...









I hope you guys enjoyed this post!  Remember to follow my blog and leave a comment below for your chance to win this months January Bag!  I will post the winner here, as well as email them for their mailing address!

*Be on the lookout for a Philosophy Giveaway coming up soon!  Featuring one of my favorites, Hope in Jar!*

Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells

IFB Follow on Bloglovin

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

DIY Teacup Candles

Hey everyone, I have been in such a crafty mood lately and have really wanted to try making these DIY teacup candles!  So I thought I would share with you all how I did it!  These would make great gifts and are perfect for Valentines Day coming up!  If you are interested in learning how to make one, keep reading!

What you will need:
  • Soy wax beads or chips
  • Fragrance Oil of your choice
  • soy wicks
  • tape
  • wooden skewers (kabob skewers)
  • teacups 

I found all of my supplies at Michaels Craft Store!  All of these supplies were also available on Amazon.com if you do not have a craft store near you.  The teacups can be purchased at any home goods store, or on Amazon as well.


After securing the wooden skewers around the wick, begin boiling your water in a double broiler.  If you do not have one, simply put a glass measuring cup (with a handle) in a larger pot surrounded by water.


Pour the wax beads into the glass measuring cup and keep them on medium heat.  Stir the beads until they are completely melted.  Next, add between 4-6 drops of your scented oil and stir.


Carefully pour the melted wax into your teacups.


Let the teacups sit until dry- I let them sit overnight and they were dry by the morning!  If you need them to be done quicker, you can always stick them in the freezer.  Just be careful the wicks do not shift when you move the teacups from the counter to the freezer.



And voila! Cute and easy teacup candles!  I think these would be perfect for your own home or to give as gifts!  I love that they are very customizable too- as you can pick whatever color and scent combination you like!






I hope you all enjoyed this post!  I have a few more easy DIY projects perfect for Valentines Day coming up so be on the lookout!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo
linds&bells

IFB Follow on Bloglovin