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1 In beauty

lipstick amuse bouche

I’ve been into lipstick for as long as I can remember. In second grade, Mrs. Fouchecourt had to take away my Cherry Chapstick, for “over-applying and being a distraction.” ?? Nowadays, I have slightly more self-control, but I still keep at least three or four lipsticks in my purse-kit at any given time. So when Influenster and Bite Beauty sent me a box of their lipsticks to check out, I was happy to add them to the rotation.

I recieved Pepper, Beetroot, and Gazpacho (left to right) and was relieved to find them all really wearable! The colors are saturated and buildable, and the lipstick is almost as comfortable to wear as a balm.

Pepper is one of those ‘your lips but better’ neutrals and I dig it. It doesn’t read too brown with the olive in my skin, and I can swipe it on sans mirror.

Despite feeling ‘meh’ about the vegetable, I think Beetroot is my favorite of the lipsticks. The deep berry color is rich, but not too in-your-face, and the sheen keeps it feeling relaxed.

Almost vermillion in the tube, Gazpacho surprised me by going on deeper and more neutral, a true red. I’m a perpetual sucker for a classic red lip.

I’m still really tan from our trip to Trinidad, and all of these lipsticks played well off that. They wore well for four-ish hours and then faded slowly and evenly, but they’re easy to reapply. Beetroot and Pepper are both in my purse right now, so there’s that. Bite Beauty makes great products, that I regularly purchase at Sephora (loved their discontinued double-ended lipsticks!) so I’m glad to have added these new lipsticks to the makeup arsenal.

Disclosure: I received these lipsticks as a complimentary gift from BITE Beauty and Influenster; all content and opinions are my own.

loveRavayna

March 7, 2016

0 In beauty

the friday five 003 a braid-y bunch

When I wrote my #15in15 earlier this year, I set a goal of learning to dutch braid. It took a decent amount of practice, but I’ve learned and then some! I’ve been wearing a variety of different styles and shapes of braids, while in Europe, at the farm, and pretty much all the time.

David even papped me braiding on the go- I thought he was taking pictures of architecture, but not so much.

I’m not claiming to be any kind of braid guru, I’m just a beginner. But today I’m passing on a little guidance, as I acquaint you with some of the hair vloggers from whom I’ve picked up my fancy braid skills.

Twist Me Pretty

Abby actually wrote a braiding ebook- girl really knows her stuff. She also introduced me to a favorite product for braiding, Kenra Platinum Texturizing Putty. As someone without a ton of hair, I don’t always want to wear my extensions, and most of her styles don’t need them. Her upbeat but not saccharine attitude and stinking adorable family (especially those twin baby boys) are also points in Abby’s ‘pro’ column.

Cute Girls Hair

Mindy is mom to four daughters, and therefore has lots of hair to do. She and her girls span ages, hair length, and hair texture, so there are lots of diverse styles demonstrated. Their specialty is styles that can be done in less than five minutes, which is awesome for any girl on her hustle, regardless of age.

Kirsten Zellers

She’s strikingly beautiful, and has the most amazing mane of icy lavender-silver hair- it makes me want to race to the salon, bleach my hair out and rinse it pale pastels. With that gorgeous color, I’m pretty sure she could tie it in knots and it would still be swoonworthy, but it seriously upgrades her braids to fairy tale status.

The Small Things Blog

Kate was one of the first vloggers I came across. She seems incredibly down to earth, and breaks things down into manageable steps really effectively. It sounds ridiculous to even watch the tutorial, but her lived-in messy bun video is super useful for a topknot that appears full and sloppy, but isn’t tangled into an actual knot below the surface. She teaches in-person braiding and curling classes near her hometown in Raleigh… I’ve always thought attending one would be so fun!

Barefoot Blonde

With a sheet of long, blonde hair, Amber incites hair envy with fat, lush braids. But she owns that it’s comprised of lots of extensions, and I appreciate knowing that from the outset. Her tutorials can be a bit rambly, but it’s nice not to have to rush to keep up with a hyperspeed video. Her directions for hiding my extensions within braids were really useful, and I wear what she calls a fishhook braid often.

I follow all of these lovely ladies on Instagram as well. I love speedy braid videos and micro-tutorials, plus the eye candy of some simply beautiful braids. And I’m still learning- working on a dutch fishtail now, but it’s tangly going!

loveRavayna

November 13, 2015

0 In lifestyle

the friday five 002 pink

As I was gathering items for this post, I realized that I was ‘pinking out’ without planning it. Apt for October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, though I’m no big fan of the rampant pink-washing by corporations for the most meager donation. That said, I stand firmly with Planned Parenthood, and it lines up with their recent public statements as well. All that boils down to is, ladies, take care of your health!

Bioderma Crealine: Micellar water has started to gain popularity here in the States, and this French version is my absolute favorite. A few swipes and any grime or makeup, even waterproof mascara, is history. No need to rinse after, your skin will look clean and be refreshed. It’s so much cheaper in Europe, so I brought home multiple bottles.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm: This lip balm glides on to moisturize without a hint of stickiness. And don’t be put off by the overly Barbie shade it appears in the tube- this sheer gloss reacts with your body and reads the most flattering soft pink, your lips but better. They’ll still be feeling cushiony several hours later. And the tube itself is so pretty, too.

Bougainvillea: I love the way it sounds, rolling off the tongue, and the way it looks, decking our cul-de-sac in a wild cascade of hot pink ruffles. It climbs up our house, too, framing the window in front of my desk with a shock of color. I’ve been piling handfuls and armfuls into bowls and onto trays all summer long. They’re starting to to fade for the year, and even though they are the furthest thing from fancy, practically a weed, I’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Vintage jewelry box: I was in Denver with my girlfriends a few weeks ago and scored this rosy beauty for a screaming deal at a vintage shop. It’s in incredible condition, and I’m loving having a better way to organize my baubles.

Kate Spade card holder: My everyday wallet is a Lacey, and it’s just too big for some handbags and clutches. That’s when this is perfect- with an interior pocket and 3 card slots, it’s perfect for just the essentials! Id, cash, card, and business cards and I’m good to go with tons of room to spare.

I’m in New York this weekend for a little work and a little play. Hope y’all have a lovely weekend as well!

loveRavayna

October 16, 2015

0 In beauty

the friday five 001

Introducing a new series today. Pretty self explanatory, it’s a roundup. Topics will range, but today these are five of my favorite tested-and-true beauty products. Read on…

Charming Charlie baby backs are perfect if you love a statement earring like I do. These squishy silicone, super supportive earring backs keep even the saggiest stud earring perfectly in position. I’m also convinced they help prevent my earring holes from stretching out, but that might be hopeful thinking.

Living Proof Prime Style Extender. This was one of those products I sampled multiple times out of scepticism, but it really does make a difference in how long my blowouts last- an extra day, sometimes two, and a little goes a long way! If you’re a member of the shower cap and dry shampoo corps, this product might be for you.

Bio-oil. I’ve been using this since my teens, because it’s amazing, inexpensive, and accessible. It moisturizes dry skin and cuticles, erases stubborn mascara smudges, and with consistent use, really fades scars. It even worked on my angry red and purple stretch marks, and some nasty surgery scars, so it’s pretty much the holy grail.

Shadow Shields. I love using these on clients and myself to avoid eyeshadow fallout. They make great guidelines if you are a little unsteady flicking your eyeliner into a cat’s eye, and also just keep more dramatic looks tidy.

Sonia Kashuk hairbrush. This is supposed to be the closest possible thing to the legendary Mason Pearson brush. Since David would check me for a fever if I tried to spend hundreds on a hairbrush, I cannot confirm nor deny. But I’ll say this: I don’t normally feel passionately about hair tools, but I really love this brush. Enough to own two, for home and on the go. Detangle, blow dry, tease, smooth, all done perfectly- and the mixed bristles allow for an amazing head massage. The Sonia Kashuk brand is a Target exclusive … as if you needed the excuse to head for the red.

Have a great weekend!

loveRavayna

October 2, 2015

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Disclosure: I received these lipsticks as a complimentary gift from BITE Beauty and Influenster; all content and opinions are my own.

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