All about brows

"Eyebrows are the frame of the face" someone once said. But the thing is people have a lot of different views on what good brows look like.There are the runway high fashion overgrown thick brows. The naturally full but tamed brows, or the trimmed and perfectly lined brows. And my least favorite the drawn on pencil thin brows. I personally prefer something in between the Jessica alba brow and Megan fox brow, natural but groomed.

I have naturally very thick brows, if I didn't groom them they would take up half my forehead. I also have had a bad habit of over plucking. I even tried waxing my own brows and took of half of a brow once. Ive tried a number of failed attempts to fill them in by using gel liner, and the worst was liquid liner that was so obvious and hideous!! Its a tricky thing to get right. Heres a few tips I've learned over the years of taming these beasts. 

Tools: tweezerman tweezers, white eye liner, small trimming scissors and a brow pencil.

simple steps:

Step 1- I like to line the outside of my brow with a white liner with the desired shape. This helps prevent over plucking and gives a guideline to work with. 

Step 2- I pluck everything on and on the outside of the white line. Make sure to take a step back from the mirror every now and then to make sure you are staying with the desired shape and that your brows are even. 

Step 3-I brush the brows upward so the longer pieces stick up. Hold a small pair of scissors horizontal and trim the top edge. 

Step 4-use the brow pencil or powder with a short angled brush to first line your brows, use short wispy strokes to mimic the look of hair. Then fill in any thin areas on the brows, I only have to do the part of my brows closest to my nose because mine are thick. The rule if thumb is brunettes use a shade lighter than your brows and blondes a shade darker. 

Some woman like to use a clear brow keep your brows in place but I skip that step. 

Before and after

Thanks for reading xoxo brianna 

Ombré hair and blogger questionnaire

So I did it, I took the ombré plunge!! I was excited but very nervous because I've seen it go terribly wrong on some girls. For about a week before my appointment I discussed with my stylist what I wanted, I showed her a few pictures so we were on the same page. I wanted a subtle ombré effect nothing too harsh, and done with highlights not my whole ends looking like where dipped in bleach. shout out to Kara Peach at Monroe's because she nailed it!

My inspiration

Before with highlights, after soft ombre

that's about all I have to share lol I know my hair is super vital Info. I found a fashion/beauty blogger questionnaire that I thought would help my readers get my style a little more. So here it is:

How old are you? 





25. 26 this may, though this weekend I was told I look 15. I hate that.

Please describe your style in fashion and makeup. I would consider my style classic preppy with a trendy twist. For makeup I love a glam look with a neutral color pallet. 

Describe your outfit your wearing today.

pretty simple. A cream sweater with forest green stripes, dark wash jeans, short flat booties, some gold wrist candy, and mixed a delicate and statement necklace. 

What makeup are you wearing?

To be honest most of the day I didn't wear any. As much as I have a love for makeup a lot of days I like to go au natural. Later on I added on Bobbi brown color corrector concealer under my eyes, make up forever powder, revlon highlighting palette in bronze glow on my cheeks, on my eye I did one coat of maybelline falsies and a thin winged liner on top. That's it pretty simple Saturday. 

Describe your favorite shoes and handbag whether you own them or not. 

My absolute favorite purse of the moment is hands down the celine luggage tote! If only I had a few thousand bucks laying around...sigh. My favorite shoes are wedges. I'm short so I like to add a few inches with out having to crawl the next day. I've been wearing my wedge booties quite a bit this winter, and I just picked up some classic brown leather wedges for the warmer weather, if it ever gets here.

What's your favorite color?

to wear: black grey white cream navy. exciting right? for makeup I love golden tones, browns,and black on my eyes. peach cheeks and mauve nude lips.

Who is your favorite designer?

Chanel. Ysl. Ralph Lauren

What makeup brand is your favorite? 

Nars is my ultimate fav! The colors and quality and there sleek packaging makes me want everything! I also love Bobbi brown, urban decay, make up forever and benefit

Who is the best styled celebrity in your opinion? 

I love Jessica Alba's effortless style, Olivia Palermo is always chic, anything Kate Middleton wears is timeless!

What's your one piece of fashion or beauty advice? 






When it comes to makeup don't cover up your flaws, enhance your natural beauty! And for fashion if you like it, wear it.

What is your favorite item in your closet?

My brown leather coach boots-I scored the best deal on them too

Where do you shop most often? 

outlet stores like jcrew factory, banana republic factory, and Nordstrom rack. I am obsessed with tj maxx and Marshall's and I can usually find cute things at target'(said the fancy French way) 

What is a secret remedy related to beauty or fashion? 

coconut oil! I use it as a hair mask weekly, use it as a oil moisturizer and add it to home made sugar scrub. 

What is the worst decade of trends as related to fashion?

Hands down the 80s and 90s. Barf. the 60s are the best. 

What style if jeans do you prefer?

I would say skinny jeans. But I do own bootcut, flared and wide leg. I'm in search of a good pair of boyfriend jeans now. 

What body part do you most frequently play up?

my waist.

What's your favorite fragrance? 

I don't often wear perfume. I'm still looking for that signature scent. 

What's your biggest beauty problem? 

Damaged over-processed hair, and uneven skin tone.

What is one makeup item you can't leave the house without wearing?

Lip balm lol 

What's one fashion trend you cannot stand right now?

Fake glasses. Why??

What city around the world epitomizes your style?

Paris. Tres'chic 

Do you read fashion magazines? If so please list:

I don't subscribe or buy any but I will pick up a people style watch in a waiting room. 

Do you think the media puts too much pressure to look a certain way? 

Well I'm a woman in America so the media does have some influence on me whether I know it or not. But what I do know is all the women in the magazines are photoshopped so much they don't look like that. No one looks like that. So that makes me feel better.

Overall are you satisfied are you with your image? 

the image looking back at me in the mirror? I'm happy with it. everyone can knit pick here and there but I'm pretty good with what I've got. 

Are you happy with your weight? 

I'm not sure what I weigh exactly I know where I am around, doesn't bother me. I care less about the number on the scale and more what I see in the mirror and how my clothes fit, I would like to tone up before summer gets here.

What do you probably over buy when it comes to fashion or beauty? 

Dresses and heels! Because I don't live a fancy life but I just cant stop buying them so I just look at them. lol Also I have far too many bathing suits, and lip products. 

Can you classify yourself as one if the following? rock icon, classic beauty, fashionista, or indie chick 

A mix between classic and fashionista. Though I'm a true maxxinista. 

Most recent bargain purchase?

spring army green utility jacket originally $100 I got it for $50 

What nail polish are you currently wearing?

OPI dulce de leche 

Did I say hands down and chic enough?? Lol 

 Thanks for reading xoxo brianna

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