Summer to Fall

As summer is coming to an end, the days get shorter and colder. To adapt, we change our clothing types. This can not only be expensive, but also wasteful. So before you give away all the tank tops and shorts, think twice.

The basic rule is simple, layers. If you have a cute tank top you do not want to give up just yet, add a jacket or blazer. Have any shorts that were just bought at the end of summer? Add leggings and boots. However do not forget the color scheme for fall. Remember, warmer and softer colors for this time of the year. If you are worried about some of the prints in your closet, just know floral is perfect for around the year.

Boots are a staple piece for fall, and also go into the winter season. So investing in a nice pair of boots that will last is a smart idea. Try to get a neutral color like brown, black, or grey so you can match them with a variety of outfits. Don't forget about the flip flops you have been wearing all summer! Transition them into the early months of fall, (or depending on how cold it gets where you live) by pairing them with a pair of jeans.

Accessories can pull an outfit all together. For fall, belts really add a nice touch, and they also help put variety into your wardrobe. For example, if you want to wear a simple shirt with a belt over it one day, then another day wear it with a jacket instead, it looks like a whole new outfit. Necklaces can make a huge difference also. When picking a necklace, keep in mind the type of shirt. If you are wearing a high neckline shirt, you want to wear a longer necklace. If you are wearing a lower cut shirt, you can usually wear either and that is when you look into the shirt itself. If the shirt is a print or has 3D designs, (such as  ruffles) you want to wear a shorter, more simple necklace. It is alright to wear a louder, longer necklace if the shirt is plain or a simple design. 

Essentials in Makeup

Here are some essential items that you should have in your makeup bag:

• Moisturizer 
• Foundation
• Setting Powder 
• Concealer 
• Face & Eye Primer
• Bronzer
• Mascara
• Eye Shadow
• Eyeliner
• Lip Color

Natural Eye Makeup

What You Will Need

• Eye shadow brush
• Blending brush
• Flat eye shadow brush
• Eyeliner brush
• Small eye shadow brush
• Eye primer
• Ivory eye shadow
• Dark brown eye shadow
• White eye shadow
• Brown cream eyeliner
• White eyeliner
• Mascara

As always, start with a blank canvas.

Rub the eye primer all over your eyelid and partially under your lower lash line.

Pat on the ivory color with the eye shadow brush

Take the dark brown and with your flat eye shadow brush, start to build up the color on the outer corner of your eye, extending slightly under your lower lash line. 

Blend the brown and ivory together.

With the white, highlight your brow bone and the inner corner of your eye with a small eye shadow brush.

Line the upper lash line with the brown eyeliner using the eyeliner brush. Make sure to go over the eyeliner with a matching eye shadow color to make it last.

Now take the white liner pencil and go over your waterline. Pat on white eye shadow to make the liner last. (If you do not have a white eyeliner pencil, white cream eye shadow may be used as a substitute.)

Apply mascara and you are done! 

Fragrance

   Various scents and smells can complete a whole outfit. Sometimes picking the right fragrance can be difficult, however. So to start out, find out what types of scents you enjoy, make sure you will be able to stand the smell all day. There are three basic categories of scents: sweet, spicy, and fruity. Sweet scents include fragrances from flowers, such as sweet pea, or lavender.  Spicy would be more herbal ingredients such as mint, cinnamon, or anything in the name that has "spice" in it. Fruity contains the obvious, fruit. Some of the classics are peach, watermelon, and apple.

   So how do you decide? Well pick which category you will most likely wear, then pick out different scents within the genre. It is alright if you want one or multiple from each category. It is good to have a variety. On a daily basis, picking which to wear should start by the colors in your outfit. Try and match a fragrance to the color that most stands out in your outfit. So for example, if your shirt is a soft orange color, try a scent like pumpkin spice, since pumpkins are orange. Doing this will complete your outfit and make the scent stand out since your senses can smell and "see" the fragrance. 

   When you are picking a perfume, try to also keep in mind the season. If it is spring time and you are wearing an orange shirt, pumpkin will not be ideal, since pumpkins do not grow in the spring. Try to get a flowery scent to go along with the color. Think of what you will typically see growing that time of the year. 

   There is always that one person that you happen to walk by and are overpowered by fragrance, well you do not want to be that person. Remember that other people smell the scent stronger than you do because you are used to it. Less is more. Some scents are stronger than others however. You should be able to full on smell it for about 30 seconds, then forget it is on. If you can recognize the scent all day, you have way too much on. If you accidentally put too much on, take a wet wipe and remove it where you sprayed it on. 

Tips

• 1-3 sprays usually does the trick
• Spray on the back of your neck to make the scent last all day 
• Try not to spray any perfume in your hair, it will just make it greasy
• Careful when spraying on your clothing, some perfumes have dyes that may stain

Moisturizer

Moisturizing your skin can be important but if used improperly you may be doing more harm then good.  With the endless variety of brands and categories of moisturizing lotions it can be difficult to find the products that are best for your skin.  Remember, some moisturizers are meant for your face while others are best when used on your hands.  Scented lotions are not the best choice if you want to maintain a spot-free face; a moisturizer with added perfumes may make you smell nice but it can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. When added into your nightly routine or applied after a shower, a scentless sensitive skin formula is best for your face.

Those of you with oily or combination skin should especially avoid applying too much or the wrong kind of moisturizer as it can cause more oil to be produced. The idea of moisturizing oily skin to reduce the skin's need to produce so much of it's own oil can be misleading.  The overall concept makes sense but if done improperly can be devastating to your skin.  You should introduce moisturizing into your routine but be sure to read this article for tips on how to select the correct product for your type of skin.

 http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/tips/5-tips-for-moisturizing-oily-skin.htm

Fall Nail Polish

It is starting to feel like the fall season! If you want to get ahead of trend, start stocking up on your favorite colors for the season. Colors for fall are darker and warmer. Try to get inspired by the your surroundings. Notice all the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground. Reflect colors that are around you to fit in with your surroundings.

Plum

Orange

Golden Brown

Gold Sparkles

Dark Purple

Tips on Going Back to School

Regardless of your age, your first day of school can be difficult. Here are some tips to help you feel confident and prepared.

1.  Dress for Success


The first day of school can be quite nerve racking. Wearing your favorite outfit can make you feel more comfortable and confident. Wear something that is both stylish and cozy. Be sure to check up on your school's dress code, you would not want to get in trouble on your first day. As for makeup and fragrances, you want to keep it natural. Try not to over do it.

2.  Be Respectful


Most teachers use the first day of school to establish the class rules and outline their expectations of you as a student. This is a good opportunity to show your teacher that you are a good listener and that you take your education seriously. This can be done without being a "teacher's pet". You don't need to bring apples for the teacher but be sure to give them the respect they deserve. Avoid falling into the bad habits of other students who are just counting down the hours till the final bell. Remember, the more you learn early on, the easier learning becomes.

3.  Eat Breakfast


This tip applies to everyone, not just students.  Eating breakfast wakes you up in the morning and gives you the energy you will need until lunchtime.  If you spend your day staring at the clock waiting for lunch then nothing gets done.

4.  Be Yourself


 Have confidence in yourself, especially when talking to others, your good attitude will shine through and will have a positive effect on those around you. If you lack confidence, fake it but be sure to avoid being cocky and obnoxious. Remember, whether you think you can or whether you think you can't , you're right.

5. Take Your Education Seriously

Teachers and staff will not want to help you when you need it if all you do is disrupt class. Do not be afraid to ask relevant questions, they will add to your understanding of a particular subject.  Remind yourself why you are in school, other than being forced to; making a concerted effort to build your understanding and knowledge base will provide much benefit to you later in life.  An education is the best gift you can give your future self, trust me, you will thank yourself later.

Eyeliner & Mascara

Eyeliner and mascara go together and look better when they are paired.  Although some people prefer one or the other, for your eyes to stand out the most, you need both. 

Just Eyeliner

  

Just Mascara

Both

See how much more it stands out with both?  Not only does the eye look better, but it also looks more professional. 

Eye Shadows For Your Eye Color

Brown

Since brown is a pretty neutral color, a wide variety of shadows match nicely.  Brown eyes can usually pull off nude colors very well.  However, colors like bright blue sometimes are a little harsh.  If you do not always wants nude colors, almost all purples are compatible with brown if you want a nice evening look.  Pink shadow will give you a more romantic look and tends to make brown eyes look darker.

Blue

Blue eyes come in many different tones and colors.  You will have to experiment to see what works for you.  Generally, for blue eyes, dark browns make them pop the most.  Light shimmery grey can bring out the light blue in your eyes (that is if you have blue eyes to start).  Pink can sometimes clash with blue, but most of the time it is fine.  Darker green is not a very compatible with blue, although bright green can present a fun summer look.  

Green 

Depending on if your eyes are a yellow-green or a blue-green, your results may vary.  A universal color  for green eyes is a golden brown color. For blue-green eyes, a silver color can really support the eye color.  Yellow-green will be better off with more of a dark brown smokey eye.  Pink and bright blue clash with green eyes almost all of the time, especially if it is a dark green.  Luckily, green eyes are beautiful on their own, so they do not need much color to support them.

Grey

Grey eyed people should feel pretty lucky since almost any color can be pulled off with them.  You will    have to be careful to make sure that your eyes are actually grey and not just a light blue or a dark green.   

Hazel

Since most commonly hazel eyes change between brown and green, you will have to check your eye color before you apply colors like pink, since it clashes with green, but not brown.  You will want to find colors that are compatible with both eye colors, like for brown to green eyes, brown looks nice with both.  Same goes no matter what colors your eyes change to.

Two Different Colors

Although  pretty rare, different colored eyes are unique on their own, so natural colors will help show them off.  Like hazel eyes, you will have to take in account the differences in the two colors and find a color compatible with both.

Cheetah Print Nails

What You Will Need

• Two contrasting colors of nail polish
• A tool with a round end (ex. bobby pin or toothpick)
• Clear nail polish

Start off with a clean nail.  Paint your nails with the clear polish.

Apply two layers of the first nail polish color.  This will serve as the base color.

To make the cheetah spots, make dots with the second color of nail polish in a rough circle.  Leave some of the circles open slightly.

Apply the clear nail polish after the print and base have dried.

Tips

• Allow each layer to dry for five minutes before applying the next layer or design.
• Take your time with the cheetah spots, and try to keep your hand steady.
• After you are completely done, wipe away any polish that is not on your nail with nail polish remover and a cotton swab. 

Simple Smokey Eyes

What You Will Need

• Eye Primer
• White cream-based eye shadow
• White shadow
• Grey shadow
• Black shadow
• Soft brown shadow
• Cream black eyeliner
• Mascara
• Eye shadow brush
• Small eye shadow brush
• Angled brush
• Blending brush
• Eyeliner brush

Rub eye primer all over your eyelid and slightly under the lower lash line.

Next, rub white cream eye shadow onto your eyelid.

Pat white eye shadow onto the inner half of your eyelid using an eye shadow brush.

Do the same with grey shadow on the outer half of your eyelid. 

Pat black shadow onto the outer "V" of your eyelid using an angled brush.  Put a thin line of black shadow on the outer half of you lower lash line. 

Be sure to avoid adding color to the area below your brow.

Line the crease between your eyelid and brow with brown color using a small eye shadow brush. 

Highlight the inner corner of your eye and brow bone with white eye shadow.

Soften the harsh lines on the edges of your eye using a blending brush.

Darken the area above your upper lash line with cream liner using an angled eyeliner brush.

Apply mascara to your lashes, and you're done.

Finding Your Perfect Lip Color

Nude

Nude lip color is typically worn during the daytime.  It goes well with most eye shadows, making nude the most versatile lip color.  Although, it will not work as well for people with very pale skin tones.  Nude is for medium to dark skin colors and any hair color, especially red-heads.

Red

Red usually works best at nighttime. If it is paired with a natural eye color and depending on the event, red can also work well during the day.  It goes well with lighter eye shadows, since it has such an impact of its own.  Red is a good color for people with either pale or dark skin, it looks especially nice with light hair colors such as blonde or light brown.

Pink

Pink is a great daytime color, because it is bright and stands out.  It can work well with either dark or light eye shadows.  Pink may be used at night if paired with darker eye shadow; for daytime, pair it with lighter colors.  Pink will match well with any hair color but dark browns and black are especially nice because of pink's ability to pop.

Bronzing Powder

Bronzing powder is for emphasizing the contours of your face.  It will give your face a natural glow and can even create a slimming look.  Bronzer should not be used all over your face since the color is much darker than your natural skin.  You should use a bronzer that is three shades darker than your foundation.

Bronzing powder needs to be applied with an angled or a fan brush, a flat brush can also be used in a pinch. To apply, get a small amount of product on the end of the brush and lightly apply it to the areas of your face indicated below.  Bronzing powder should be applied to the hollows of cheeks, temples, and the sides of the nose.  Make sure to blend the edges well to avoid sharp, dark lines on your face.

Basic Foundation Routine

What You Will Need:

• Primer
• Concealer
• Liquid Foundation
• Setting Powder

First apply the primer all over your face and lightly under your chin with a thin even coat.

Next, apply a concealer that is two shades lighter than your natural skin tone to any areas that are discolored or red.

After you have rubbed in the concealer, apply the foundation all over your face and under your chin and jaw.  Use either a foundation brush or fingers to apply an even, light layer.

Finally, using the end of a powder brush, dab a small amount of the setting powder all over your face.


Tips:

• Make sure your fingers are clean before applying anything to your face.
• DO NOT rub the setting powder around on your face, this will smear the foundation.  Always dab.
• The foundation color should match your neck, not your face. 

Olive Oil & Sugar Face Scrub

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp sugar

Mix together the olive oil and sugar to get a paste-like texture.

Dampen face before applying, then rub mixture all over. Scrub, lightly, in a circular motion. Rinse well. After you dry your face, moisturizing is recommended. Once you are done your face will be soft and exfoliated.

Images copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

First Post

Welcome to Regarding Pretty!   Here we will explore various aspects of style including makeup, fashion, hair, and more.  We encourage you to explore and express your personal beauty without falling into stale trends and to have the courage to celebrate your unique "pretty".  Style is always changing and growing so suggestions and constructive criticism are encouraged!