How to get a sun kissed glow even in the dead of winter

I was feeling as white as the snow outside. Not that theres anything wrong with a creamy porcelain complexion, however I was more sick and sallow. Even though I'm half black and half white my color is drained by thanksgiving. I have a yellow undertone to my skin too and I literally had people asking me if I was sick when I felt fine. Never mind if I was actually sick or sleep deprived I looked like the walking dead with no makeup.
So I decided to try something new-spray tan! In past winters I've done the tanning beds but swore them off because I'd rather skip out on skin cancer if possible. Heres how to go from pale drab to tan glowing sun kissed fab fast.

First off exfoliate. I used the body shops Vitamin C mircodermabrasion on my face, and my homemade sugar scrub on my body which is brown sugar, coconut oil and honey.

Then got my spray tan using a versa spa tanning system. It was pretty cool and easy too. You have to take off all jewelry and clothes, cover hair with a shower cap and stand in the booth doing different poses as instructed by the machine while in sprays and dries you. The tan develops over the next several hours. If you want to go the self tanning route I've heard great things about the St. Tropez line but haven't tried it.

Left before spray tan, right several hours after

I used Origins ginzing energy boosting moisturizer and Ginzing refreshing eye cream then used an illuminating primer underneath my foundation. This will make you look like your glowing from within and covers up skin imperfections. There are many foundations with a dewy finnish that are excellent but I used my Make-up forever foundation with a satin finnish because it matched my skin color best at this time.

Then I used a large fluffy brush to apply bronzer to the places where the sun would hit, the hairline, cheek bones, nose and chin. I used a victoria's secret bronzer that is now discontuned. Then to add some bronzed color and highlight I put a swipe of revlon palette in bronze glow a dupe for the Bobbi brown bronze shimmer brick. With the lightest shade at the tops on the cheek bones and lightly swipe up to the the temple.

The Final result

Also I'm getting my hair done this coming week and I have a question. Is ombre dead? I know its overplayed now but Ive seen some really pretty pictures via pinterest that are decried as "sombre" a soft subtle ombre effect.

What do you think??

Thanks for reading xoxox brianna 

Valentines day outfit Inspirations

Whether your single this Valentines day, drinking and eating ice cream cursing your friends with rings on their finger. OR your in a relationship like me, who thinks valentines day is a hallmark holiday, regardless its here. I prefer to treat the day like a day to show everyone I love in my life how much they mean to me. Whatever your situation or plans for the day I have an outfit for you. They are inspired by items in my own closet, I can recreate all these outfits to a tee. Disregard the specific brands in the pictures these just represent similar, almost identical items I already own. Most of the things I buy are from TJ maxx, Marshalls or are old so it is hard to link to specific items.

Casual with rain boots

Layers will keep your heart warm in this adorable casual outfit. The red plaid button down is layered underneath a graphic tee. Then top with an open red cardigan and roll the sleeves so the plaid peeks out both at the collar and by the gold wrist candy. A large gold watch and the crystal chain link bracelet are the statement jewelry of the outfit which is topped off with small gold bow studs. Red short manicured nails keep classic and a braided hair headband make it trendy. And who doesn't love rain boots. My shiny black boots are from target years ago but I love love the hunter boots shown here and hope to own them some day.

Lady in Red

For a romantic dinner date let this red dress do the talking. Mine is from H&M and is figure flattering without showing off too much skin. The v-neck and wide empire waist paired with the straight skirt with pockets creates the illusion of a perfect hour glass figure. All the accessories are kept neutral, how cute is the tiny heart ring?! (It looks adorable stacked with other rings) For this look long loose waves with a middle part make it even more romantic. Glowing makeup will make you look like a goddess, use golden shadows and lots of lashes, get a pink pout by using a lip stain and use plenty of highlight on the cheeks. 

V-day Night on the town

Keeping it simple and stylish with this red, black and pearl ensemble. Dark wash skinny jeans paired with a red peplum top, basic black pumps and black velvet blazer make a sleek sexy look. Add on the large pearl statement necklace and pearl and gold bangles for a more feminine touch. Polish it off by using my all time favorite nudes beauty products. Essie polish in lady like, Lo'real lipstick is fairest nude and a neutral smokey eye using the sonia kashuk matte shadow palette. For this look I would go with sleek straight hair. 

Heres a few tips to look and feel sexy, romantic and flirty this valentines day

1. Don't forget about the skin on your body. Yes is cold and you will be covered up but a little shimmer on the décolleté' area (neck and chest) or arms, goes a long way. Use coconut oil right out of the shower then cover it with your favorite daily lotion for super soft skin.

2. I know red lips and a very dark smokey eye complete with false lashes might be tempting but keep it fresh and simple. Guys don't love a face full of makeup, less is more, or at least more but looking like its less. lol Not to mention red lips can transfer and he doesn't want to wear it as much as it may look good on you.

3. Keep your hair soft and fragrant. Do not crunch your hair with gel or hairspray even if it's going to keep your desired look better. And if you co wash or wash your hair every few days like me, WASH YOUR HAIR for valentines day lol. If your hair doesn't hold the scent of your shampoo spritz it with a little perfume before heading out the door. 

4. Don't splurge on expensive lingerie. Get a bikini wax. It lasts longer. Just calling it how I see it. haha

XOXO thanks for reading Brianna

Does your age define you? Being a 20-something in Adult limbo

For warning in this post I am going to open up a bit. Im not trying to whine or complain about my life at all. I know I am very privileged and I am thankful for the things I do have in my life. That being said, I'm 25 and I have no idea where my life is going.

I know this is a common time for a "quarter life crisis". A time people in their 20s and 30s to question the life dissions they have made up until this point and where they are headed in the future. For me it seems like a lot of people my age have a general plan that they are working towards. Most people have careers or getting married and starting families. I am doing none of those things. I feel like Im in this weird stage of adult limbo. Yes, I am an adult at 25 but I have little to prove this point. LOL For example my boyfriend is incredibly focused and driven. He graduated college and works at a corporate office in a near by city. The kid is twenty five and just bought his first home and has a 401 K plan for christ sake, he's got his stuff together. Meanwhile Im over here babysitting on weekends for extra money.

Im in the weird in between age of what having fun is supposed to be like. If you go out on a friday night and have a hangover the next day you may be seen as immature. If you stay in watching say yes to the dress and folding laundry then your an old lady. Not that I care that much how others perceive me, but I do feel a bit lost on this whole trying to be young and old simultaneously thing.

I use night cream to prevent future wrinkles but still battle teenage like acne. It doesn't help that I look much younger than I am, I get parents at work who think Im 20 all the time. I have literally googled "How to look older". Im not even kidding. Im sure I won't think that in a few more years but right now I would love just to look my age. 

Don't even get me started on the everyone I know getting married and having kids...Im just trying to remember to switch my laundry so it doesn't smell stale. Seriously I just try living day by day and get through the many tasks and to do lists without wanting to crawl into the fetal position, never mind trying to plan the rest of my life. Anyone else feel like this?

I sometimes feel like Charlize Theron in the movie young adult. Though she is in her 30's in the movie, she's stuck in 21 year old state but trys to fool everyone she's got it all together. I know your twenties are a time to discover who you are, and don't get me wrong as far as the person I am on the inside Im at peace with. Its the things that people ask you at family get together that bother me..."So where are you working now?", "Not married yet?", "Still living in the same area?". I would really love it if they could all just stop. Im making my own way. God has a plan for me I just don't know what that is yet. Im still trying to figure this thing called life out, let me breathe and stop comparing me to everyone else please. 

THE BEAUTY BOWL: Battle of the Beauty Products

So I know the Super Bowl is on right now...I know all you girls are bored. So I thought I'd do a little battle of the beauty products, the beauty bowl if you will. Two similar products go head to head, and I'm the lady in stripes making the calls.

Nars velvet Matte lip pencil VS. Revlon Color burst matte balm
While they both have similar names, and claim to do similar things, the price tag is the real difference. Nars comes in at $25 per pencil while Revlon is between $6-$8 depending on where you find it. The color burst collection has 10 different shades of nudes, brights even a trendy wine and purple color. The color pay off is great, and the shades are true to color from the packaging. My only problem is the brighter the shade the more it breaks up and settles in lines after a while. With using any matte lip color I suggest keeping a lip balm on while you do the rest of your makeup then blot it off before applying color. The Velvet lip pencils come in 14 colors mostly neutral lip colors and a few deeper shades but nothing as bright and vibrate as in the Revlon color pallet. You really get what you pay for when it comes to the texture in these however, the go on so smooth and the matte finish is flawlessly done.
The winner in my book is the Nars, the colors are shades I would wear on a daily basis and the quality is much better too. The color I keep going back to is Dolce Vita, decried as a dusty pink.

Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture Palette-Eye on Neutral  VS. Urban Decay-Naked Basics Palette
Do you see a theme here? So I'm really loving matte and neural shades. Seems boring but they are actually very useful in creating a great look without ending up looking like a disco ball. The Sonia Kashuk compact comes with 12 shades in a sleek little black case. The first three are white and creams, the next three are peach and tan, then a red clay brown and two taupe colors follow, the last three mauve, grey and jet black. This is all you need to create a complete dynamic eye look for any occasion. I got mine at target for $20, which is steep for a drugstore buy but its hard to find an all matte palette out there! The Urban decay palette goes along with they're cult followed naked line. While they have three pallets of neutral shadows that mix shimmers, satins and mattes this is the only all matte version. Let me just say it's $27 and comes with 6 shades...really. Three cream colors, one tan, one brown and one black. The packaging is a small flat rectangular palette similar to the Eye Couture palette except its branded with the "NAKED" logo across the top instead of the see through top the former offers. To me its a no brainer. Sonia Kashuk's eye on neutral dominates the basics palette. Its like Urban decay just needed something else to throw into the Naked line to profit from but the product less than basic, not worth the almost $30 price tag.

L'oreal Paris Smooth Intense Xtreme Straight Creme VS. Phyto Phytodefrisant botanical straightening balm
So I have mention the l'oreal product before, I've been using the same bottle since the summer and have enjoyed it. It is targeted to those with unmanageable, frizzy hair. That's me. It claims to keep frizz under control for 72 hours, protect hair from heat styling of up to 450 degrees and contains oleo-kertain. Seems like a whole lot of marketing BS to me, but either way it did make my hair more sleek and less dry and brittle when flat ironing. Now it does say it is an intense cream, so use it very sparingly. I have thick dry hair and I can only apply this from my ears down because it is just too heavy for my roots. You can find it at the drugstore for $5-7 bucks. The phyto-word I can never pronounce-balm is a thinner consistency, more of a gel than a cream. It is for unruly, frizzy, and rebellious hair, again I fit the bill. It is actually heat activated so you will get a better result when using heat tools. Much like the other products from this brand it is free of paragons, sulfates, and phthalates. While the l'oreal cream contains alcohol and other ingredients that may make your hair feel good at the moment but dry it out over time, doing the opposite desired effect. The phyto balm also claims that the more often you use it the easier it will be to achieve a straight, frizz free hair. Again I think that is marketing, to get you to use more of the product faster. Something many beauty companies admit to doing it stretching the truth of their product and making everything seem like a miracle in a bottle. In this case, its no miracle, it just actually works. At $28 per bottle I keep repurchasing it. It makes my hair much straighter and I can load it on all over my hair and it will never cross the glossy/greasy line.

Currently watching the half-time show with Bruno Mars. He's always a great performer! Even for a guy named Peter he's got some soul : ) Ya Thumbs up for the name change.

Thanks for reading XOXOXO Brianna!