Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

These gel eyeliners are available for purchase wherever Maybelline products are sold, for about $6-$10 CDN, depending on where you buy them from. There are four available shades: Blackest Black (950), Brown (952), Charcoal (954), and Eggplant (956). I have this eyeliner in Blackest Black and Brown. 

Maybelline.com describes this liner as follows:
"[This] oil-free formula holds highly concentrated pigments in a clear gel base. Smudge-proof and waterproof for 24 hours. [It is] safe for sensitive eyes and [is] ophthalmologist-tested and contact lens safe."


The packaging is really quite adorable. The eyeliner comes packaged in an itty-bitty little glass pot, with a twist-on black cap. Each eyeliner also comes packaged with a small eyeliner brush, very comparable to the Quo Ultra Fine Eyeliner brush, but smaller in general.

I find the brush to be incredibly useful, and have kept both of them. They wash out just like regular brushes. I actually find these brushes better for applying the gel eyeliner than any brushes I own. With the included brush, I can achieve a fine/thick line, and get the liner as close to my lashline as possible. I have incredible control with this tiny brush, which makes it a definite keeper.

I was a little wary at first, because the pots are so freaking small. I mean, it's not a big deal to drop $7 bucks here or there, but I didn't want to waste my money on a one-use kind of thing. I was wrong though. A little bit of these liners goes a very long way, so these little pots will last you quite a while - don't let that deter you!


I originally purchased the brown version first, and have found somewhat of a discrepancy between the formulas of both. My Brown liner is more dry and thick than the Blackest Black, which is creamy, thinner, and smooth. But overall, they are so easy to work with... there's no skipping or tugging, these liners just glide over my skin with incredible ease to create beautiful lines. My only gripe is that sometimes, if you're being really futzy with your line, the application can become a little splotchy or patchy, and you'll need to go over the line again to get a perfect, opaque line. It's not a huge problem, it's just an annoyance.

Brown

Brown

Black

Black

The pigmentation on these liners is INSANE. One swipe gives me full-fledged never-stop color. Blackest Black is a very rich, deep black, while Brown is a warm, medium-chocolate brown.

Brown
No flash - natural sunlight.

Brown
With flash.

Black
No flash - natural sunlight.

Black
With flash.

These liners are absolutely fantastic. They wear all day, without smudging or flaking/chipping off, yet remove easily with a little bit of my Cetaphil Gentle Daily Skin Cleanser, water, and a wash cloth. Although occasionally I have to use a little extra elbow-grease to get these babies off my eyelids... but I suppose that's a good thing, right!? As far as the claim that these last 24 hours... erm, I don't know who would want to be wearing eyeliner for 24 hours - if you did, you might as well get it tattooed on - just sayin'. But they could very well last for 24 hours - they'd just be faded, nearly non-existent...


My sister uses the black liner to fill in her brows, too. It gives an amazingly natural finish - you literally would NEVER know that she had filled her eyebrows in with gel eyeliner. 


Overall, I LOVE these. They're a great alternative to my long deceased, but much loved, L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black. They're affordable, pigmented, smooth, and will last you forever. The fact that they come with a little brush is also a huge plus for me - this way you don't have to go out and pick up your own brush to use with the product. Just use the one that came with your liner!!


I would definitely recommend this to anyone who was looking for an affordable gel eyeliner, who was having difficulty with creams, or just wanted to try something new!!


5 out of 5 stars.
* * * * *


What is your favorite kind of eyeliner!?!

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Foundation (Combination/Oily Skin)

I picked this foundation up from London Drugs for $18.99 CDN, but you can find it for around $15-$20 CDN, depending on where you buy it. This liquid foundation is available anywhere Revlon cosmetics are sold - I prefer picking mine up from WalMart, just because everything's cheaper there... haha. One bottle of this foundation holds 30 mL (1 fl oz) of liquid goodness. The color selection is stupid (stupid good, that is...) - with about 20 shades available from the lightest of light shades to very dark. There are also two formulas available from Revlon: Combination/Oily, and Normal/Dry. 


My review is on the Combination/Oily version.


According to Revlon.com, this foundation provides medium-full, lightweight/weightless, flawless coverage for up to 16 hours? 24 hours? There's a bit of a discrepancy... the website says both 16 hours and 24 hours... my guess is that this will wear 'nicely' for 16 hours, but you'll still have remnants of it 24 hours later. Meh. I don't know that I'd want to wear foundation for 24 hours anyways. This foundation also has an SPF of 6 - whoot whoot!

For the Combination/Oily Skin formula, it's formulated to be oil-free, which helps control shine and mimics flawless skin. I will caution you, some people find that Revlon's ColorStay foundation breaks them out - wear it cautiously. Be attentive to your skin's reaction to the foundation... stop using it if you notice a rash, or an increase in your acne after use. I haven't noticed myself breaking out from the foundation... but your skin can freak out over time - so just be attentive :)


The packaging is... meh. A sleek glass bottle with a twist-on black cap. The glass is transparent so you can see the color of the foundation inside, as well as being able to tell when you're running low and need to repurchase. This foundation lacks a pump with which to dispense the product, so you're left with a wide gaping mouth in which you need to dump foundation out onto the back of your hand and work off of there. Revlon could've stepped up their game on this one, except if they did this foundation would be more pricey than it is now. You win some, and lose some.

My shade is 150 Buff. It's the second-lightest shade in the line. I picked up Buff because it appeared to have a more neutral-base, in comparison to the more pink-toned, 110 Ivory.

No flash - natural sunlight.
Left to Right: NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia, Revlon ColorStay in 150 Buff

With flash.
Left to Right: NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia, Revlon ColorStay in 150 Buff

Mostly blended in. With flash.
Left to Right: NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia, Revlon ColorStay in 150 Buff

Mostly blended in. No flash - natural sunlight.
Left to Right: NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia, Revlon ColorStay in 150 Buff

The foundation has a little bit of a scent, which I am undecided on. I don't really love the scent, but it isn't noticeable forever, so I guess it can be overlooked.


It dries speedily, so you do need to work quickly when apply it. I prefer to use a damp Beauty Blender-esque sponge, or a dampened brush (such as the Real Techniques Blush brush). In a pickle though, I would use my fingers. Because this foundation sets so quickly, I don't feel that I need to use a powder afterwards to lock it in. It blends fairly easily... some areas on my face take a little bit more work than others (around my hair line and eyebrows for some reason), but it's by no means difficult to achieve a 'flawless' finish.


This foundation barely transfers... a true test for me of transferability, is when you blow your nose into a kleenex - do you get a bunch of foundation that transfers onto the tissue? Also, when you touch your face, do you see foundation residue on your fingertips afterwards? With my NARS Sheer Glow foundation, I get a lot of transferring. This foundation, barely. It really clings to your skin and sets in for the long haul. A HUGE plus for me.


For my skin, I feel like I get a really natural finish. You can barely tell I'm wearing makeup, which is a BIG BIG plus. I have a lot of the 'peach fuzz' hair on my face, so I have to be super careful with foundations that they don't cling to the fuzzies and exacerbate them. Additionally, my skin has been in super turd mode lately where it's uber oily all the time, so my NARS Sheer Glow foundation slides right off and looks cakey and unnatural. It dries to a matte finish, though on my skin it looks semi-matte (a slight sheen, but nothing that looks oily or greasy). This is great for oily skin because it won't aggravate the oiliness, and will stay put longer.

The Revlon ColorStay feels weightless on my face, which is a huge selling point for me. I refuse to wear a foundation if I can feel it on my face all day long. I want to be comfortable in my foundation, which the ColorStay delivers on. To the touch, you can't even feel the foundation on the skin. 


Powder products blend effortlessly over top of this foundation - you don't get any weird clinging or cake-face-ness with powder blushes or bronzers. Bonus!!


As for the color match, in the bottle this looks almost dupe-able to my NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia, though it doesn't make me look as flat and colorless as the Sheer Glow does. This is a better match in some ways to my neck color, so I don't look so white face>off-white neck. I would say that in most lights, this is a perfect match, but in others it looks a little too peachy. I anticipate that this will be a near perfect shade for me at the beginning of summer, but a little too dark for the winter when I'm whiter than an albino... haha.

Left to Right: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Siberia, Revlon ColorStay Foundation in 150 Buff,
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji

I don't notice this oxidizing on my face at all during the day. It appears true to color at the end of the day as it did in the morning when I first put it on, which is a total plus.


This foundation photographs really nicely too. The SPF is so low, I don't know that it really creates much of a white cast when you use flash photography - so don't avoid it for that reason. My skin appears flawless in photos, and definitely not cakey or chalky.


Now I know you're all wondering if this actually does last 16 (or is it 24?!) hours... In regards to the longevity of this foundation, it holds up pretty well. I put this on at 11:30 am yesterday morning and by 11:30 pm last night, it was still looking pretty decent in comparison to any other foundation I've ever used. There was significant wearing around my nose and mouth - where I tend to touch my face the most, in addition to having to blow my nose a lot since my allergies were really bugging me. However, the foundation around the outer part of my face (forehead, the back of my cheeks) was perfect. Just like it was when I put it on in the morning. It might have faded a bit, but the foundation was still there, and was looking funtabulous. Even the wear-and-tear around my nose and mouth area was pretty decent - it was a gradual fading/rubbing off of the foundation, but because of the cling of the foundation, it didn't wear off in patches, or unevenly. You could definitely see my skin poking through, but the remnants of the foundation on my face gave me the hint of added coverage.


I'd say, overall, this is probably THE best foundation I've ever used - hands down. The color is perfect, the formula is wonderful, and the wear-time is probably the best selling point here. When I wear foundation, I want it to last - I don't want it transferring or smudging off an hour after I apply it. I want it to increase the wear-time of my blushes and bronzers. I want an affordable alternative that is easily accessible. I HIGHLY recommend this foundation to anyone who is looking for an affordable, long-wearing, lightweight, flawless foundation. 


5 out of 5 stars.
* * * * *


What is your favorite drugstore foundation!?!

NOTD: Chloe's fantasizing about flip flops...

Hola my beauty lovin' babettes! It is Monday, which if you live in Alberta means that it's Election Day, but it also means that it is going to be 26 degrees today (in Celsius)!! WHAT!?!


In lieu of this marvelous fact, I decided it was time to crack out some summer colors and paint my nailses to reflect the joy and happiness that I am feeling...

Cue Flip Flop Fantasy by China Glaze and Chloe by Zoya!!

I used this combination on my toes this weekend, and I realized that it was a P-E-R-F-E-C-T union. 


With the neon-esque quality of Flip Flop Fantasy, Chloe's flakiness isn't overt or obnoxious. In fact, it's not even that obvious until it catches the light just right - and then your nails flash into a green, gold, peach, and orange explosion of flakie-goodness.


3 coats of Flip Flop Fantasy by China Glaze.
2 coats of Chloe by Zoya.
1 coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine Extended Wear Top Coat.

It was so hard to capture color accurate photos, as well as ones
that really showed the beautiful finish that Chloe gives to this mani.

The fantastic thing is that the flakies really even out the texture of Flip Flop Fantasy, so you don't require as many coats, and everything looks flawless in the end.

It's definitely one of the things that's making my Monday that much better :)


What's your Monday mani lookin' like!?
xoxo

Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo

You can purchase a 141 g (0.5 oz) can of Dove's Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo anywhere Dove hair care products are sold. I purchased mine at SuperStore for $3.99 CDN (it was on sale there), but I've seen it average around $4-$5 CDN a bottle. Right now, there is only one version of this dry shampoo available from Dove - but maybe we'll see different variations on it in the future.

Photo credit: www.dove.us/Products/Hair/Shampoos/Invigorating-Dry-Shampoo.aspx

Dove.us claims that their weightless formula absorbs oil to transform your hair into a castle of bouncy-awesomeness (ok, not that wording exactly...). They also boast that your hair will feel refreshed and have that 'just-washed' scent.


In comparison to the TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, this can actually contains less product (Dove = 141 g, TRESemme = 161 g). And yet the Dove can is stupid amounts larger...


The Dove dry shampoo comes packaged in your standard metal can with a spray nozzle. The bottle itself is actually uber cute, way nicer than the TRESemme alternative in my opinion. I love the sleek matte white bottle, with the cute pink writing. The nozzle is crazy powerful too - much more so than the TRESemme. You get a steady, even super-charged flow of product from the nozzle each time, and it seems that you need to shake this can less to keep the product coming.


Many of the reviews I've come across for this product rant about how the can is 'empty' after their first use, or becomes defective in some way after one usage. Usually, this is a result of the product's nozzle becoming clogged with product. There is a simple solution for this, before you start panicking - rinse the nozzle off under some warm water for about 30 seconds, I've had this problems several times with the TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo too. While I'm sure there's a way to increase the efficiency of this system, we need to learn to adapt and work with what we've got. In this case, just rinse the nozzle off. It should start working for you again. 


Now the scent of Dove's dry shampoo is absolutely F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c (with a capital 'F'). To be honest, and as you'd already be aware of if you read my review on TRESemme's Volumizing Dry Shampoo, I really wasn't in love with the citrus-y scent of the TRESemme. So this was an incredible breath of fresh air... the Dove smells delicious and clean and wonderful. And the smell lingers in your hair - so you've got fresh, delicious hair all day long. In fact, as your hair moves or you run your fingers through your luscious locks, the scent becomes stronger, and then fades subtly into the background as it remains motionless. The scent actually reminds me of something, but for the life of me, I can't put my finger on it...


On to the formula... tally ho!!


I ADORE this dry shampoo formula. While the powder is, in fact, white (just like the TRESemme), it doesn't leave any visible white cast to my hair, which I LOVE. In fact, I can spray this bad boy into my hair and not comb it out, and it still looks perfect. This dry shampoo also gives loads of volume to my hair, without weighing it down with the product itself.


I adore the force of the spray from the nozzle - it's so much more powerful, and the stream of product is constant, not patchy. I can do my whole head in a faster amount of time, and I feel that the wide width of the spray makes it easy for women on-the-go.


My gripes with the TRESemme leaving my hair feeling tacky and almost gritty, are dispelled with Dove's dry shampoo, which leaves NO feeling in my hair. My hair feels clean and oil-free without the gnarly feeling of product actually being in my hair. It's literally, weightless - that much Dove got bang-on.


On so many levels, I love this more than the TRESemme. I love the smell, the formula, the packaging, the weightless feel of it, the price tag. The fact that it's Dove. Bah! I cannot say enough good things about this product. Basically, GO. Run, jump, crawl, drive to your nearest drugstore and pick up this amazing product and see for yourself how life-changing-ly-fantastic it really is.

I'll tell you one thing's for sure; it makes all the difference having an amazing dry shampoo in your life.


DEFINITELY, 5 out of 5 stars on this one (way to go, Dove!)
* * * * *


What's your favorite Dove hair care product?!?

TiGi Bed Head Hard to Get Texturizing Paste

I purchased this orb of texturizing goodness at a local salon for approximately $20 CDN. One of these spherical pots contains 1.5 oz of product. Make sure you open yours up before you pick it up and make sure that there is a plethora of un-tampered hair product in the packaging. A few that I checked were showing signs of old age, and I wanted the 'best' one I could get. 

According to TigiHairCare.com, Hard to Get is supposed to create thickness and separation in your hair, all while moisturizing and leaving your hair feeling and smelling clean. The formula is matte, so it won't add any shine to your hair after application.

On MakeupAlley.com, this texturizing paste received a whopping 4.6/5 lippies (27 reviews), with 88% wanting to re-purchase this.

The packaging for this product is SUPER cute. I mean, who wouldn't want to leave this sitting out on their vanity?! This translucent blue spherical orb is tres adorable. It's very small - palm-sized. It features a twist-off cap, and a little plastic insert that keeps the product fresh and from contamination. You can throw the insert out, or leave it in and take it off and replace it each time you want to use the product.

The cardboard disc attached to it when you buy it though, is a little tacky - so I pulled it off. Unfortunately, getting the glue off the bottom of the sphere was a little more challenging and required some serious elbow grease to pry off so it didn't stick to everything I set it on. So that was a little bit of a pain in the you-know-what.


The texturizing paste itself is a very dense, almost buttery-textured balm. There isn't a lot of give to the product in the jar, so one of two things needs to happen: you need to really dig your finger in there to get some product out, or you need to rub your fingers around on the surface of the product several times to warm it up enough to transfer to your fingertips. The latter method gets less product out of the jar and ensures you waste less product in the long haul, but it also takes eons for me to get enough product to do my whole head...

The scent is amazing. I love the scent of Bed Head products, though I can never quite describe them - they just smell like fruity wonderfulness. The scent also lingers in your hair after application. It's not obnoxious, but it definitely adds that extra something special to your hair. If you hate the scent in the store, you're probably not going to appreciate the scent lingering on your hair for part of the day either...


Hard to Get is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I absolutely adore this product. I was taking quite a leap of faith in purchasing it, especially since it's a steep price tag for the amount of product you're getting. However, I am so impressed with this.


It creates the piecey, textured look to my hair that I want with incredible ease. It doesn't clump up my hair in an unattractive fashion, and it doesn't make my hair look greasy or unmanageable. The hold is RIDICULOUS. My style will last all day and then some with this product. It doesn't make my hair tacky or goopy - it's still touchable hours later.

After about 8 hours of partying it up with the fam jam,
Easter-style, my hair is still looking intact and bombshell-esque.

Even after I sleep on my hair, the remnants of my textured look from the day before still remain. Brush through this, flat iron over it... and it still looks amazing. AND this product is amazing at keeping my bangs in place - I'll just take the tiniest smidge and work it through my bangs, and voila - I don't have separated, crazy bangs.


A little bit goes a long way too. I don't need oodles of product to accomplish the style I want, though the product is difficult to manipulate in the orb.


This is a definite must-have for me in my hair styling arsenal - especially with my short hair do, now. This product makes me want to keep my short hair all whimsical-like for a very long while. I love the way it looks when it's texturized and piecey... and Hard to Get definitely makes this process a whole lot easier. I think I spend 10 to 20 minutes less on my hair now since getting this product, and I use about 3 times less hairspray than before.


I'd have to say that this is one of those 'holy grail' products for me. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great texturizing paste - it's fantastic, and definitely worth the extra dineros.


5 out of 5 stars.
* * * * *


What's your favorite hair styling product!?!

04.17.2012 - I be haulin'

Holy my beauty lovin' babes!


I am back from my interview!! Here's hoping it went as well as I think it did... I'll keep you guys posted.


In any event, I did some shopping at the mall following the interview, as well as arriving home to my eagerly awaited and anticipated goodies from Nancy's 1 Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway at The Dark Side of Beauty. Please go check out her blog - she does some a-m-a-z-i-n-g makeup looks, as well as fantastic, in-depth reviews. I find myself eagerly refreshing my page every morning looking for her most recent post!!

Pardon my gnarly thumbnail - I got a little excited with swatching
polishes at the drugstore, and I ended up scratching it off before it was dry haha.

Back Row (L to R): Zoya Maisie, Zoya Chloe, Zoya Lotus
Front: Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe

I was super excited to find some things at the drugstore - gotta love it when you stumble across sales!!

Nicole by OPI polish in Kim Konfidential

And I also stopped at Ardene, where I found some really great belts on sale - 3 for $10!! Now, I know that these belts are cheap, but I've been looking for a black belt to cinch with, and I haven't found 'the one' yet... until today! So I picked up three. Pardon the weird stain on my shirt... I'm perplexed as to what it's from and how it got there.

Don't you just love the pattern on this one!?

Oooh, lace!!

Keep your eyeballs peeled for reviews and pictures for the makeup products mentioned in this haul!! They should be a-coming soon!!


Have a great week, beautifuls!
xoxo

Interview Ideas: Makeup, Nails, Shoes, Accessories, and Clothes!

*Note: This post is pretty picture heavy... WHOOT!*
Hola my beauty-lovin' babes!
I have an interview tomorrow, which I am anxiously preparing for and anticipating.


I thought I'd share with you some of my tips and tricks for makeup, nails, fashion, and hair for interview success.


What you're going to read down below is pretty redundant - you're going to sense a strong theme here. KEEP IT SIMPLE. However, in some cases, you can get away with a small pop of color, or hint of something exciting - but keep it minimal. Keep your outfit neutral, and give that extra sumthin' sumthin' to your ensemble with some color in your earrings or necklace. Or throw a soft, but obvious shade of pink polish on your nails. Perhaps you'll change it up by using olive greens in your eyeshadow instead of your typical brown shades. Just limit your 'pop' to one small, but significant item - don't go overboard.

MAKEUP

This is going to depend on the type of job you're applying for - obviously. If you're applying to MAC or Sephora, you're probably going to want to up the amp - show them what you're made of and what you're capable of.
If you're applying to any sort of professional/office job - Keep it simple.
For me - the latter is the case. Thus, this is not the occasion to be pulling out my sultry, dark eyeshadows for a date, soiree, or editorial fashion shoot.


Don't pack on color and glitter. Try to keep your shadows to a matte or satin finish. If you use shimmer - keep it to a minimum (on the center of your eyelid or under your brow). A little goes a very long way.
Don't use too much black or dark brown - an interviewer doesn't want you to stare them down with blackened rings around your eyeballs.


Keep your color palette neutral. Use eyeshadows in taupes, greys, browns, creams, champagnes... And remember to blend, blend, blend.


Try to keep your focus on subtly enhancing your natural features instead of accentuating them. 


Skip out on the matte fire-engine-red lipstick - perhaps you could settle for the 'just bitten' look. Use a soft red lip stain to give your face that pop of color it needs.


Here's my take on a simple, but classic interview makeup look.

LIPS

Apply MAC lip pencil in Dervish all over lips.

Put NYX lip pencil in Rose in the centre of lips to add dimension.

EYES

Use an eyeshadow base or primer. I used Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original.

Apply Prestige Brow Perfection Shaping Studio powder in lightest shade just above crease. Apply darker shade in crease and on the outer third of eyelid as a contour. Apply Urban Decay's Bootycall on the inner two thirds of the eyelid and in the inner corner. NYX's single eyeshadow in White is applied to the browbone to blend out the crease colors and add highlight. Smudge Annabelle's Smoothliner in Brownie on the upper lashline, winging it out slightly at the end. Smudge a little bit of Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero as close to the upper lashline as possible and blend out slightly to remove any harsh lines. Apply your favorite mascara - I used Cover Girl's LashBlast Volume in Blackest Black. 

NYX's Slim Eye Pencil in White is applied to the lower waterline.

 FACE

Apply your foundation all over your face with a dampened sponge or foundation brush. This will create a naturally flawless finish. I used my NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Fiji with a dampened Real Techniques blush brush.

Apply concealer to any blemishes you have, as well as the undereye area to counteract any darkness. I am using Rimmel's Match Perfection concealer in Ivory.

I set all of this with Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Cream.

Contour your face with a powder or bronzer. I used NYX's Powder Blush in Taupe and my Quo Face Contour Brush from Shoppers Drug Mart.

Use bronzer if needed, but use a light hand. I used Tarte's Mineral Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess on the high points of my face to add warmth to my complexion with a Real Techniques stippling brush.

Finally, finish off with a blush of your choice. Try to keep it somewhat muted, and preferrably matte. I used NYX's Powder Blush in Peach with my Real Techniques stippling brush.

Voila, simple but enhanced makeup for an interview. Just enhancing my natural features and inner beauty! Perfecto!


An added touch would be having your eyebrows done-did. I definitely need to get mine done - they're getting rather unruly, much like a mountain man's would be.

NAILS

Again, keep it simple. Neon green nails are not going to say, I'm serious about this job. Employers (in professional settings) are looking for someone to fit in, not stand out.


Healthy and naturally groomed nails are always in style. Apply one or two coats of a shiny top coat to naturally bare nails to give them that extra something special. OR apply a few coats of your favorite natural, nude, or soft pink polish, and seal it all in with a layer of top coat. Your nails won't be obnoxious, but you'll look put together and send the message that you make it a priority to appear polished and refined.


If you're wanting something extra special, a simple french manicure with white tips is a staple classic, and pairs perfectly with every outfit and makeup look. Sometimes this can look a little shabby if you do it yourself, so treat yourself to a manicure, or practice, practice, practice to get the best finished product you can at home!


My suggestions include:
OPI Dulce de Leche
Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in Love
Seche Nail Lacquer in Rose
Quo by Orly First Class
Spoiled by Wet N Wild My Silicone Popped
Sally Hansen Smooth & Perfect Sorbet
China Glaze Jingle Bells


I have to admit, I'll probably be rocking about 4 or 5 coats of Nicole by OPI's Kim-pletely in Love. Ugh, such a ridiculously gorgeous pink. I definitely need a back up of this one.

HAIR

Once again - simplicity is key. You're wanting your employer to hire you for your professional appearance, but also for your personal qualities. You don't want your hairstyle to distract from this.


There are no rules - wear it up or down, but be comfortable with it. Don't bedazzle your hair with gaudy pins, clips, and accessories. 

Look #1

For Look #1, I chose to keep my hair straight - truer to the nature of it's bob-cut. I kept volume at the crown, but made sure to keep the hair styled in a way that would frame my face and keep it the focus of attention.

Look #2
Yes, I did reuse this photo from my Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel review.

For Look #2, I decided to go more 'whimsical,' but still simple and not too crazy. My hair is styled so the ends flip outward and away from my face - again creating that framing effect that we desire. I feel that this hairstyle more accurately alludes to my personality, which is why I like it more :)


For my interview on Tuesday, I will probably go with look 2.


Another fantastic look, I find, is the 'retro pompadour poof' or the 'quiff.' I love the way your bangs look when they're pinned in that 'bubble,' as I like to call it. I think it looks classy and put together, and gives a person a little something special to look at as you stroll by.

Yay, Hilary!!
Photo credit: www.cliquehairdesign.com/blog/?p=21

Obviously, if your hair is longer, you may chose to wear it up or down. Just take time to style it nicely - I'm sure your interviewer would appreciate that. Oooooorrrrr.... do the pompadour poof! (That sounds like it should be a dance... haha)

SHOES

In almost every single article I've read on the etiquette of interview attire, they recommend always wearing closed-toed shoes. Apparently open-toed shoes are inappropriate for interviews.


Heels are great for elongating your legs - especially nude pumps.
I, personally, stick to flats for comfort. Something in black or brown, because they usually go with everything. Although I think it would be cute to wear some leopard print flats or a vibrant red shoe or something. Just to spice up your outfit. That would be super chic!

CLOTHES

You're going to want to look professional, i.e., no jeans, short shorts, short skirts, low-cut tops, tank tops, backless shirts, leggings-as-pants, jeggings, leg warmers, Uggs, etc.


I'm always a fan of dress pants or a knee-length black skirt. One time I wore white jeans (they didn't look like jeans, they just had the comfort level of jeans), and got the job. Just try to keep it a little more dressy than normal. Don't wear skirts that are too short, because it can look like you're a little too desperate to get that job. But if you do wear a skirt, for heaven's sake, shave your leggies!!


As for shirts, I love wearing dressier shirts, but definitely not 'dress' shirts. Button-up blouses say to me, "my mother dressed me for this interview." There's nothing wrong with them, but I'd rather show a bit of my personality through my shirts, and there's nothing more uncomfortable than a button-up shirt when you're already uncomfortable about your interview. Plus, sweat stains show through TOO well.


I'm considering wearing a black tank top, underneath a nude fitted, scoop-necked, cotton layering tee (whew! That was a mouthful). On top of that, I love wearing my cropped three-buttoned black vest from WalMart from eons ago.


In place of the vest, I also appreciate pairing the tank top and t-shirt combo with a thick waist belt to cinch in my middle and give some definition to my curves.

ACCESSORIES

Again, keep it simple.

I'll probably wear my $5 bulky watch from Ardene's, my engagement/wedding rings, and my everyday silver hoop earrings.

If I had some longer necklaces that hit my chesticle region, I would definitely pair them with my vest/belt combo, but depending on the shirt(s) I'm wearing, I might want to keep my choice of necklace simple or non-existent.

I have some gaudy earrings with disco balls dangling from the end of a chain - an interview is definitely not the time to be cracking those babies out.

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And there you have it! My tips and tricks for a successful interview appearance. I hope they helped you out a little bit - I know that writing them down has helped me figure out what I'm going to wear to my own interview.

Wish me luck!!

xoxo