Twenty Something Plus

April 13, 2016

#MAKEYourself

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

MAKE Beauty is one of my top ten makeup brands. They make my absolute favorite lip gloss, plus they are all about collaboration. They select makeup artists and expert artisans to help inspire their color palettes. If you don’t already, you really should be doing your homework on the brands you use.

If you don't already, you really should be doing your homework on the brands you use. Click To Tweet

When I like a brand as much as I do MAKE Beauty, even if I’ve tried a product or two before, I usually want to try their entire line. Financially that isn’t a possibility, so I literally pounced on the opportunity to sample their Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster and Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy.

Lighter shades aren’t typically my thing, but I am totally digging these for spring. The samples may look tiny, but they pack a lot of punch!

The full size versions cost $25 each. They also have a $10 sample kit that includes two eyeshadows and a lip color, and a percentage of their sales is donated to their non-profit partner, We See Beauty Foundation.

If you’re interested in giving MAKE Beauty a try, use the code MAKEYOURSELF for 20% off sitewide! (This code is only valid until this Friday.)

April 7, 2016

How to Look 10 Years Younger (Tips from The Age Fix)

It’s no secret that I like to tweak my skincare a ton, trying new products to find the ones that work best for me and my skin. While I tend to gravitate towards whatever is new or trending, sometimes it’s nice to get advice from a professional.

Dr. Anthony Youn is a top plastic surgeon, but his book The Age Fix is all about how to keep your skin healthy and looking young without surgery.

He shares everything from DIY face mask recipes, to quick makeup fixes. My personal favorite part is the section on what to eat for your best skin. I haven’t been able to fully commit to giving the suggested meal plan a try.

It is on my to do list, though.

For now, I’ve been making a serious effort to drink more water (adding lemon slices has been a huge help, in addition to opting for seltzer water instead of soda every once in a while).

Also, fruit. Apples, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, blueberries. I really like fruit, so making sure to start my day with at least one of something was a pretty easy transition.

Since I’m also trying to use healthier beauty products, I figured baby steps are probably in my best interest.

April 5, 2016

Styled by 5 Featuring Jane

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Each month myself and four other boss blogger babes have been styling the same piece of clothing and since we all look and think differently from each other (hair, religion, location, skin, size, height, style…all of the above), you’ll get five totally different looks. That means you’ll get to see what I style, on other body types so you can find something that is best for you!

Not only because this is my 300th blog post, but this Styled by 5 is a little extra special. This month we’ve partnered up with Jane, to style this Cents of Style foil gold graphic tee.

This month my outfit is all about dressing up the casual. Casual doesn’t have to be boring, which is a misconception that many people have.

Casual doesn't have to be boring. Click To Tweet

Jeans and a tee can mean a lot of things, by opting for camo print Zara bottoms and adding a blazer and heels, you have a look that can be worn to brunch or a night out.

Change into a pair of Converse and you easily run all your errands, while still looking super chic.

There is going to be something fun happening over on Jane’s Instagram a little later today, so make sure to be on the lookout for that. And, as always, don’t forget to check out Deidre, Kaylynn, Jacque, and Alexis, Styled by 5 posts too!

March 31, 2016

How I Keep My Black Clothes Dark

A lot of people say that they only wear black. Or that black is the main color in their wardrobe. I am not one of those people.

Although I love color, I do own a lot of black clothes. Particularly a ton of skinny jeans and leggings. And I very much so prefer it when my black clothes stay dark, bold and vivid. Black is my confidence color.

I would love it if I could pick out all of my outfits in advance. However, life happens and that’s not always possible. Black is the perfect color for that. I feel confidence and look chic, regardless of what else I am wearing. Well, within reason…

Nothing is worse than having a favorite shirt or pair of jeans fade overtime. I know I don’t want that to happen. So, I switched to Woolite Darks.

My darks stay dark.

I stay confident.

I’m going to be sharing some outfits that make me feel like my very best, so be on the lookout for that post!

March 28, 2016

The Only 3 Hair Brushes You Need and How To Use Them

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GoodyBrushEd #CollectiveBias

One of the questions I get asked the most is about my hair. When it was blue, everyone wanted to know how I did it. Did you bleach it first? How do you get it to look so good?

The truth is, even though I have bleached and dyed my hair countless times in the past, I haven’t recently. So, how did I do it? Hair extensions.

Currently, I have been wearing clip-ins, because they are easy to put in and take out, which allows me to take regular care of my own hair. The Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush from Walmart helps me do that, by reducing buildup and restoring my hair’s natural moisture balance. The bristles give a little, but not so much that they can’t brush through my hair. And my hair is THICK.

If I could only use one brush, this would be it.

With or without extensions, there are really only three ways that I typically style my hair. The classic ponytail, the princess roll, and a sleek top knot.

It is vital to use the right hair brushes to achieve the desired look. Click To Tweet

Even though all three styles are considered easy to do, it is vital to use the right hair brushes to achieve the desired look.

The Classic Ponytail

An everyday ponytail should look effortless.

I brush through my hair with my Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush
Pull my hair back into a ponytail with an Ouchless ribbon hair tie
Tease the ponytail with The Goody Amp It Up Medium Round Brush to create the perfect volume

The Princess Roll

When I don’t have extension in, the princess roll is my go to.

I brush my hair down with my Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush
Slide on an Ouchless ribbon headband
Then wrap the ends of my hair all the way around the headband

Sleek Top Knot

For a little more of a sophisticated look, this is ideal. And the Goody Straight Talk Boar Styler Brush is ideal for a sleek hairstyle.

I brush my hair up with the Goody Straight Talk Boar Styler Brush
Secure into a high ponytail with an Ouchless elastic
Twist pony into a bun
Secure bun with another elastic and bobby pins as needed

All three brushes can be found at Walmart and for more Goody Brush tutorials, be sure to check out #GoodyBrushEd!

March 25, 2016

March 2016 Loves

Disclaimer: The numbers in this blog post are affiliate links.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Gum isn’t something I chew very often, because of issues with my TMJ. But, I like to keep some in my bag. There wasn’t really a flavor of gum that made chewing it worth my while. Then, Target did it again. Project 7 gum, specifically the grapefruit melon, is phenomenal!

Attending the Lady Project Summit was not only a great experience, but I got to try a ton of products thanks to their amazing swag bag and gifting suite event. One such product? The Living Proof Flex Styling Spray. It’s doesn’t smell the best, but I love the brand and the spray is seriously the best holding spray I have ever used. Ever. All the hold, zero crunch.

Funny story, I was so excited to find NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in Beauty Mark in store, that I didn’t realize the only one left had already been opened. After getting that sorted out, I totally get why it’s so hard to find! If you are a woman of color and you do not have this color in your makeup kit, you have got to change that! Like, now. It is without a doubt the best nude color for dark skinned beauties.

When your friends do awesome things, you want to shout about it from the rooftops! BBA bracelets has branched out and is now also making BBA leather bracelets. Her stacks are always on point, and leather matches everything. So while I may coordinate the beaded bracelets to my outfit, the leather cuff is one that goes with really anything. The “liveANDlove” bracelet is the first one in the collection and is available for preorder here!

I hate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. HATE. To the point where when I was younger I’d get fluff sandwiches. However, Too Faced has persuaded me to be a bit more open-minded, with their Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow palette. I am seriously loving the different looks I can create with it!

March 24, 2016

Steve Madden Shoe Looks for Less

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Majority of my shoe collection consists of Zara and Steve Madden. I’ve had my eye on a few pairs of new shoes, but I’ve been trying to save and didn’t really want to spend anything over $100 on just one pair.

They were still in my shopping cart, that is until a recent trip to the mall.

Charlotte Russe was one of the stores that I went to most often in college. Now, I kind of walk by it and look in but keep it moving. It’s more of my younger sister’s taste than of my own. She’s more Wet Seal, I’m more H&M.

Almost serendipitously, I went in and saw a few very familiar shoe looks. Styles similar to Steve Madden’s Slithur, Carrson and Sassey for a whole lot less!

If you don’t know, Charlotte Russe almost always has some huge sale going on. This time? Buy one pair of shoes, get one for $10. So, obviously, I got four pairs. All for less than one of the pairs of Steven Madden shoes I’d been wanting.

The only drawback is that Charlotte Russe doesn’t carry half sizes. As someone who wears a 7.5 size shoe, this can be huge. Luckily, the size 8 shoes (except for the tan chunky heeled ones) fit pretty much perfectly.

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March 17, 2016

Green Beer for St. Patrick’s Day

Two blog posts in one day? I know, I know…

I just couldn’t not share about what I’ll be drinking tonight! Don’t hate me, but I’m not a big fan of Guinness, or Baileys. So, still wanting to keep it festive for St. Patrick’s Day, I found a green beer DIY on Pinterest.

SUPER easy you guys! The how to can be found here.

Essentially, you just add green food coloring to your favorite light colored beer. But the order is kind of important.

Happy St. Paddy’s Day! If you’re going out tonight, be safe. And also wear green, especially if you want to avoid getting pinched.

March 17, 2016

St. Patrick’s Day Mani

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Being crafty this month, has really started to inspire me to be more creative in general. So, forget your standard green St. Patrick’s Day mani!

I wanted to go all out colorful and used the St. Patrick’s Day confetti from my March Confetti of the Month Club box.

Aside from the confetti, all you really need is your favorite base coat and top coat of nail polish. For the top coat, I like using one that is a no light gel.

If you have really short nails like I do, you’re going to want to cut the confetti into smaller pieces. I cut each piece in about half.

After prepping your nails as you usually would, apply your base coat, then, without letting it dry place a piece of confetti on each nail.

This part can be a little tricky (and a little messy). If you have nail glue, you can definitely use it to hold the confetti in place. I didn’t. But it’s an option.

Let dry before applying your top coat. I let this dry and added another coat, you don’t have to, I just get slightly paranoid.

Plus, I really wanted to make sure they lasted as long as possible.

This may have to be my new St. Patrick’s Day tradition!

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March 15, 2016

2 Ways to Wear Something: Leopard Print Skirt

Not the first time I’ve mentioned this, but although Agnes & Dora is best known for it’s amazingly comfortable leggings, their other items are equally as comfy and cute!

What I like most about their leopard print skirt (other than the leopard spots, obviously…), is the fact that it looks great both dressed up and kept casual.

Holy chic! Right?

The second way is actually how I wore it to The Lady Project Summit this past Saturday. Oddly enough, I started to prepare for the summit by mentally picking out my outfit.

Major fail!

I ended up not having anything ready until after I did my makeup that morning.

Even though my outfit was kind of just quickly thrown on, I like to think I looked very much so put together. (I attribute that to the cape blazer.)

What do you think?