Alex Hartley

More by Alex Hartley

Get Gwenyth Paltrow's Oscars Makeup!

2/27/2012

NARS and celebrity makeup artist Leslie Lopez teamed up to create Gwenyth Paltrow’s glamorous makeup look at the Academy Awards yesterday. You can easily recreate her look at home in just 5 easy steps:
 
1)    Apply a tinted moisturized all over your face and blend to your neck. (Gwenyth is wearing NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 PA +++)

2)    To make your bone structure pop add a shimmery-champagne highlight color to your cheek bones, along the bridge of your nose, and just above your cupids bow. (Try Super Orgasm Illuminator by NARS)

3)    Moving on to eyes: apply a light gold shimmery shadow all over your eyelids. (Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow by NARS is on Gwenyth)

Drugstore Find of the Week: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters!

2/23/2012

My Revlon Lip Butters are by far one of my favorite drugstore purchases this season.

If you’re addicted to Chapstick, but wish you could give your lips a flattering punch of color, then you have got to try out the new Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters! These buttery lip balms add a beautiful sheen of color to your lips, while making them feel smooth and soft at the same time. According to Revlon, “94% of women felt [their] lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.”

NYFW: Jason Wu and Rebecca Taylor Models Rock OPI Nail Colors Down the Catwalk

2/13/2012

During a fantastically-packed second day of NYFW on Friday, February 10th, the Jason Wu and Rebecca Taylor models sported beautiful nails down the runway.

The models of Jason Wu (who currently has a killer Target collaboration) showcased San Tan-tonio, a mid-tone nude that complimented the Fall/Winter collection perfectly. Against a line that primarily involved taupe, black, gold, and pops of fuchsia and red, San Tan-tonio looked chic and polished.

Rebecca Taylor’s models, on the other hand, had their nails painted with Road House Blues, a deep navy-purple. This dark shade combined well with the floral patterns and colors of Taylor’s line, for an allover look of cool-girl elegance

Photo Credit:
OPI

NYFW: Jason Wu and Rebecca Taylor Models Rock Beautiful OPI Colors On the Catwalk

2/13/2012

During a fantastically-packed second day of NYFW on Friday, February 10th, the Jason Wu and Rebecca Taylor models sported beautiful nails down the runway.

The models of Jason Wu (who currently has a killer Target collaboration) showcased San Tan-tonio, a mid-tone nude that complimented the Fall/Winter collection perfectly. Against a line that primarily involved taupe, black, gold, and pops of fuchsia and red, San Tan-tonio looked chic and polished.c

Rebecca Taylor’s models, on the other hand, had their nails painted with Road House Blues, a deep navy-purple. This dark shade combined well with the floral patterns and colors of Taylor’s line, for an allover look ofool-girl elegance. 

Photo Credits:
OPI

Hair Flairs' Ribbon Extensions Review!

1/17/2012


If you are sick of the same highlights or lowlights that you seem always to get in your hair, then Hair Ribbon Extensions by Hair Flairs could be the perfect accessory for you! Beautifully reflective and shiny, these ribbon extensions can be secured in your hair for several weeks to add a pop of color and flair. You can get these extensions in colors such as gold, blue, pink and more!
 
Just as with your normal hair, you can wash, blow-dry, and straighten these hair ribbon extensions. However, Hair Ribbon Extensions cannot be curled. Instead, after you curl your own hair you can twist the uncurled extensions into the curls and it is as if you curled the extensions themselves! As shown in the video above, I tried this out on my own hair and it worked great!
           
I tried out these Hair Ribbon Extensions in two situations: in my own hair, and putting them in someone else’s hair. What this showed me is that these extensions are a lot easier to put into someone else’s hair than your own. That being said, they are very easy to use so you can grab one of your friends to help you when you are putting them in.
 
Each set of Hair Ribbon Extensions comes with a set of directions (only 6 easy steps!). To insert the extensions the only other tools you need are the micro-link bead, a threading needle, and a pair of small pliers. These, along with the ribbon extensions (and other Hair Flairs products), can be ordered from the Hair Flairs website: www.HairFlairs.com  .
 
Overall, these extensions are a fun way to change up your hair look by adding a great colorful sparkle to your hair!
 
Do you all have any fun new hair trends? Share them in the comments below! 

TREND ALERT: Magnetic Nail Polish

1/9/2012

It seems like this season a huge trend is special effects and unique nail polish, which is why I was instantly drawn to this idea. This is one of the cooler new nail products I have seen in a while, a nail polish that when exposed to a magnet creates a unique design on your nail.  This design looks gorgeous on all ten nails, or you could even just paint one nail on each hand with the magnetic polish for a chic accent! You can achieve the Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail look in just 5 easy steps:
 

1)    Starting with clean nails. Make sure that you remove excess oils from them by wiping them down with nail polish remover or alcohol.

2)    Remove the magnetic cap on the magnetic polish (I am using the color Whitehall Teal) and paint one thin coat of the polish on your nails.

3)    Wait for the first coat to dry completely and apply a generous second coat to your nails.

New Years Eve Makeup Tutorial

12/31/2011

Here is a really fun and gorgeous look for those of you who want to pump up the drama this new years eve!

Have a happy and safe New Year! 

Drugstore Find of the Week: Vichy Aqualia Thermal 24Hr Hydrating Fortifying Lotion

12/26/2011

I have tried a million different face lotions for my normal to dry skin, but so many of them are either too greasy or feel heavy on my skin. Lucky for me, I went to one of my trusty drugstores and took a look at some of the Vichy Laboratories skin products. That’s when I picked up my first bottle of the Vichy Aqualia Thermal 24Hr Hydrating Fortifying Lotion with SPF 30. Since that day I have re-purchased this product four of five times (each bottle lasts me about 4-6 moths)!

I love this Vichy lotion because it makes my skin feel instantly soft after I apply it. It also soaks into my skin almost immediately, which means the product doesn’t leave a greasy residue or heavy feeling on my face. Also, I cannot fail to mention how much  I love the fresh clean scent this lotion has.
While this product is a little bit pricier for a drugstore product I think it is well-worth the 30 bucks! You can pick up the Vichy Aqualia Thermal 24Hr Hydrating Fortifying Lotion with SPF 30 at most CVS stores, or other stores that sell Vichy products.
 
Do you have a favorite drugstore product? Let us know what it is in the comments below!
 

Drugstore Find of the Week: Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer

12/5/2011

This is one of my favorite concealers of all time! Not only does it cover up everything, but also it is so cheap. You can get it at most drugstores for around 8 bucks! The mineral power concealers contain 0% oil, talc and fragrance and are made of 100% micro-mineral pigments. In other words, this is a good-for-skin concealer! When applied it has a liquid consistency but it dries to a smooth powdery finish. It also comes in 6 different shades. 
            I love using this concealer not only for covering under eye darkness and circles, but also for covering any problem areas on my face. I can achieve a flawless finish using my fingertips to lightly blend the product into my skin. I find that it does a great job of lasting all day, though it does last much longer if it is set with some type of powder. Overall, it’s truly a great find.
 
Comment below and let us know what you’re favorite drug store finds are! 

Joico's new awesome treatment makes your hair the best it can be!

10/29/2011

Now, my hair isn’t color treated or lightened but I do use a lot of heat products on it (I’d say I blow dry and straighten it about 4 to 5 days a week). So, while I don’t chemically damage my hair, I do expose it to a lot of high temperatures that tend to dry it out and cause its ends to split in a million pieces (seriously, some of them are visible). I’ve tried using a number of leave in conditioners and various sprays and while those do make my hair soft at first and help detangle it, most of them tend to make my hair really oily after only half a day. If you guys are reading this and nodding along in agreement then I recommend you check out the new Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment.