Blog Archives

obsession of the month: tortoise shell!

5/31/2014

Obsession of the Month: Tortoise Shell
Can't seem to get enough! The mix of brown and black is perfect for the transition from spring to summer, and it works with a wide array of colors. I personally love this shelly shade paired with turqouise, white, or brown. I actually just bought a pair of Steve Madden Tortoise Shell sunglasses and i paired them with a navy maxi dress and gold necklace for Memorial Day. Perfect!
Some other ways to wear: A big, chunk bib necklace with this print would look adorable against a turquoise dress. No matter what shape of sunglasses you prefer, they would look fabulous in a tortoise shell shade. Bracelets in this print can also be stacked high with smaller, copper or gold-tones bracelets for a touch of exotic arm candy. A tortoise-shell chain (like the picture to the far right) would look excellent with a long, deep green maxi dress. I wish somebody would come out with black pumps with a tortoise shell-print heel! I can dream, right? The possibilities for the shell-shade are endless.

(items shown from left-right: Monogram Necklace: $23. Etsy. Bib Necklace: Kate Spade, Nordstrom. Sunglasses: $$88, GUESS. Clutch: Alexander McQueen, prices upon request, Alexander McQueen, Tokyo. Chain-link Necklace: Marc Jacobs, $95 shop.nordstrom.com.)

xoxo
-A

0 Comments

steps to sun-kissed skin.

5/29/2014

0 Comments

It's summer time! You know what that means.. buff boys running around the beach, extra cardio, and of course a deep tan of the islands. I thought since today was sunny and beautiful, I would post my steps to a perfect tan. Trust me, if there's one thing I know how to do in my life, it is get a deep tan.

Step 1: Exfoliate. This rids the body of dead skin cells. The reasons tans fade is because layers of your skin flake off. You want your base tan to be on the freshest part of your skin (ew!) to ensure that it lasts as long as it can. My person favorite exfoliator is The Body Shop Coconut (or any flavor) Body Scrub.

Step 2: Pick your time and place. The best times to lay out are between 12:30 and 3. Try to lay near water because the sun will reflect off the water and onto you. Wear a black bathing suit as well this will attract the sun. I try to lay out 2-3 times a week for about a half-hour to an hour per session.

Step 3: Grease up. This is the fun part. Tanning oil will help create a better tan because like I mentioned before, the sun reflects off of the oil. This means, the more glistening your skin is, the more light will attract (think a prism). Depending on your skin tone, you might need an oil with 10-15 SPF for pale skin, 2-5 for fair/medium, and if you're olive/dark like me, you can go with no SPF. If you really are feeling brave, olive oil makes an AMAZING tanning oil, but I warn you that it will fry you. Continue with caution. Also, aside from the oil, make sure you put at least 20 SPF sunscreen on your face. This will prevent future wrinkling and present freckles. The way I see it, you can always add bronzer to your face if it is lighter than the rest of your body, you can't exactly bronze your body. Also, remember your lips can burn. Use LIP BALM NOT GLOSS to prevent flaking. Gloss, like tanning oil will attract the sun and burn your kissers. The products I like are Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning oil, DHC White sunscreen, although you can use any, I just have sensitive skin, Panama Jack Full Sun Tan Accelerator for my first few times laying out, and my EOS egg balm for my lips.

Step 4: Don't forget the hair! Personally, I have dark hair and I like to keep it that way, so I wear a turban on my head when I lay out. Whether you want to protect your hair from the sun is up to you, but I still recommend using a deep conditioner as you lay out. The one I like is Garnier Fructis Deep Conditioning Mask.

Step 5: Hydrate! Keep in mind, the more dry your skin is, the less your tan is going to stay on. This means hydration on the inside as well. Don't forget a water bottle, or other hydrating drink. My personal favorite is Vita Coco Coconut Water. Makes you feel like you're on an island as well.

Step 6: Recover. After your little sun date, MOISTURIZE and keep moisturizing every day about twice a day. Make sure it is a high quality moisturizer too, make sure there is no alcohol of any kind in it. Alcohols in moisturizers will strip a tan off your skin. Right after sun, I use Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration in Coconut Papaya. Then, after I shower and for the rest of my moisturizing, I use Body Shop Coconut Body Butter. Fair trade, no alcohols, great scent, great results.

If you follow these steps, I promise your tan will be radiant all summer. However, I do not know how every one's skin tones are, so if you are the type that burns, use more SPF, stay hydrated and cut your duration shorter. Happy sunning!
xoxo
-A

0 Comments

:start of a new beginning: taking the extra step

5/28/2014

0 Comments

First post ever! Is it bad that I actually am really excited about this? I have wanted a blog since I was probably about 13.wow. Anyways, while this may just seem like a typical blog, this is my own little world. I want to help other girls dress the best they possibly can, find their perfect hairstyle, lipstick color, shoe heel height, whatever it may be.

Being a college student myself, I know what a struggle it can be to look nice every single day. But what people don't realize is it takes only 10 minutes out of your morning to make changes that will make you feel more confident for the rest of the day. 10 MINUTES! For example, instead of sleeping that extra 15 minutes, how about you look through your jewelry box for a killer necklace? Or find a shade of lip gloss in your collection that is dazzling? 10 minutes is even enough time to test out a new hairstyle instead of wearing a pony tail every day. You are only young once, you can only wear certain things for a limited number of ages (sorry ladies, daisy dukes over 30...eeek!). You get the point....It is not about being vain, it is just about taking that extra step which I know can be SO hard to do, but oh, is it rewarding.

I feel starting this blog is the extra step for me. If I want to be a fashion icon someday, this is the perfect place to start. But in all cheesiness aside, starting tomorrow, take 10 minutes out of your morning to do a little something extra for yourself. You never know who may be hiding under that sweatshirt, and you never know who may notice ;) Good luck!
xoxo
-A

0 Comments

Alexandra's
diaries

obsession of the month: tortoise shell!

steps to sun-kissed skin.

:start of a new beginning: taking the extra step

Don't Miss A Thing

Author

Archives

Categories

Alexandra'sdiaries

obsession of the month: tortoise shell!

steps to sun-kissed skin.

:start of a new beginning: taking the extra step

Don't Miss A Thing

Author

Archives

Categories

Alexandra's
diaries