Mani Maintenance

Thursday, April 5, 2012 by Lacie Powell

The biggest complaint I hear about manicures is that they don’t last long enough. Fair enough but I dare to say that like any beauty treatment, to get the most out of your experience, a mani requires some upkeep and maintenance. Follow my no fuss guide below to get more miles out of your manicure:

1. When your polish starts to chip or your nail grows out under the polish, it’s time for a tune up!

2. Gather the necessary supplies: nail polish (this is why I suggest you BYOP to the salon…so you can have it at home for touch ups), nail file, cuticle oil, clippers and a top coat.

3. Trim and file your nails to the desired length. Get rid of any rough edges as those are what usually catch on something and cause your nail to break and your polish to chip.

4. Apply cuticle oil, rub in and let it sit for a minute or so. Wash and dry your nails thoroughly.

5. Apply a single coat of polish to the entire nail, or if the chips are minimal, only to the tips and base. Get enough polish on the brush that it will spread and even out naturally. If you apply too little, it will be obvious where the chips are. I always do my toes first and my thumbs last. This allows me to do any clean up with the sharp edge of my thumbnail. Let your nails try.

6. Apply 1-2 coats of top coat. Let your nails dry.

7. Voila! A fresh faced mani without another trip to the salon!

TOSH Picks: Baby Powder AKA Dry Shampoo

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by Lacie Powell

{The Fab Mrs. Tosh}

Hello POSH Friends!

My name is Kristen Toshner, the Bestie of Lacie (her POSHness) Powell. I have always had an affinity for beauty products of all kinds; hair, make up, skincare, nails. I have at least three of each of any product type out there (and don’t tell Mr. Tosh but I have established a secret beauty hiding place.) On top of that, I have a regime utilizing all products in my beauty artillery (I leave no lotion bottle un-pumped and never shy from returning a product that doesn’t agree with me). Here I will tell you what I am currently using and loving; a plethora of products I think you should own (and gift). I will give you first hand advice of what you can’t live without in your beauty drawer and the best way to use it.

TOSH PICK: Baby Powder

When it comes to your hair and many beauty regimes, don’t work harder, work smarter. Speaking in terms of effort, time and money, today’s pick fully applies to all three. Whether you are a stay at home mom, a working mother or just any girl on the go, we can all relate to the amount of time and energy spent on our daily hair routines. No one wants to look like an oil slick and sometimes we just don’t have the time to complete the full wash, rinse and repeat routine. Enter the 8th Wonder of the World, dry shampoo. I have had many rounds with and much skepticism regarding dry shampoos but will share with you three different products in different price points for any beauty budget that I have experimented with and reviewed for you POSHees.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Dry Shampoo Spray; $25
Tresemme FRESH START Volumizing Dry Shampoo; $5.29
Baby Powder; $2

Tresemme and Oscar Blandi are both liquid/aerosol sprays. I felt the Oscar was a more fine formula whereas the Tresemme was thicker and allowed more product build up in my coif. When using a liquid aerosol, make sure to shake the bottle very vigorously and in also between sprays and DO NOT spray like you would your hairspray, concentrate on the roots. Let dry for an ample amount of time and then brush into scalp with fingertips and make sure to brush hair thoroughly. In the end, I found I preferred an actual dry formula. I feel like sprays work against the whole dry shampoo theme.

For powdered versions and my personal TOSH Pick, Baby Powder, sprinkle in at the roots and rub into the root at the scalp. Let sit for a few minutes and then proceed to brush out thoroughly as you would liquid products.I know what you are thinking, BABY POWDER?! But it’s true. The little item that has always lived in our homes is a fabulous dry shampoo and the most economical buy in your beauty artillery and the scent is clean and welcoming. It will work for most hair colors believe it or not and if you’re super concerned about it showing up too light, add a bit of bronzing powder to the mix to darken it up.

Make-Up Basics

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Lacie Powell

This post is brought to you by another fabulous POSH Blog reader.

“I don’t wear ANY makeup (don’t even own a thing) but some days I’m looking extra-tired or we might go on a date (ok, who am I kidding, we’re too tired to go on dates!)…anyway, sometimes I think it might be nice to put on a little something, but I don’t want to spend a fortune and don’t know what the best basic things are. I’m thinking $20 or less, if that’s possible!”

Jessica, here are a few tips from me to you:

First, it’s important to remember that your most important asset is your skin. You can be wearing no make-up at all and if your skin is first rate, you will likely be the most beautiful woman in the room. Pick a cleanser that will remove dirt and grime without drying out your skin. Johnson & Johnson Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash has gotten rave reviews and comes in at a mere $4.74! This goes without saying that you should already own and be applying sunscreen daily missy! Especially living in Florida! For a one-stop shop I suggest Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30. You’ll be evened out, hydrated and protected all at once!

If your strapped for time, the next step is to consider which route you want to go…you can either play UP your best features or play DOWN the features you aren’t crazy about. For you, I’d recommend playing up your great eyes and lips. On the days when you’re feeling extra tired, play down the dark, puffy circles under your eyes. Of course if time allows, it’s always nice to try and squeeze in the whole shebang.

To Play Up:

Give your lashes length and definition with Maybelline Full N Soft Mascara

Add some simple but lovely sheen to your lips with Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Afterglow

To Play Down:

Keep a couple of spoons in the freezer. Whenever you wake up feeling like this, just pop the rounded sides on your eyes for 10 mins and voila!

Apply some Preparation H (no, I’m not kidding) to your undereyes. It’s a trick that professionals swear by.

Dab a bit of Maybelline Coverstick under your eyes with your ring finger.

Provided you already have a facewash and sunscreen, not bad at a grand total of $20.04! If not, you can always pick those items up onesie twosie or down the road. Now get down to business and send us POSHees a pic! Happy beautifying!

Caring For Your Brassiere

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by Lacie Powell

Hi snowbunnies! Hope you’re all staying warm if you happen to live in the great state of Washington! Today I bring you a bit of practical advice on bra care. It ain’t rocket science but it will help you get more wear out of your delicates. Read on.

CLEANING

Wash your bra only when you need to–soiled, stinky, etc.

It is best to try and wash them in warm water using a splash of laundry detergent (Do I do this every time? No way but I try to. If you can’t always hand wash, you might want to try something like this or this.) I let them soak for an hour or so first, hand wash then rinse in cold water. If you prefer, you can use something like this or this.

The next step is to sort of wring them out by pressing out all the water but avoid twisting the bra and compromising it’s natural shape, particularly if it has a foam component..

Finish by flat or line drying.

STORING

The best way to store your bras is to stack them in a drawer so they retain their natural shape. Never fold the cups into themselves.

TRAVELING

When traveling, a little something like this is handy. As soon as you arrive, I suggest pulling them out and hanging them up, storing them in a drawer or draping them over your suitcase. Again, do what you can to retain their natural shape.

WEARING

Get fitted. Get fitted. Get fitted. Get fitted.

When wearing your bra, always clasp the back strap on the outermost hook and eye to start. Then as it stretches, you have the luxury of wearing it tighter as you need to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way when you skip right to the tightest hook.

Denim Diaries Pt 2

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Lacie Powell

Hi friends! Hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post and it provided some much needed insight on how to navigate the depths of denim. Today I’m back with the second, and perhaps most important part in the series–how to find the fit what’s right for you!

First, to understand what type of jeans work best for you, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your body type. Now, I believe there are more than just four body types but for the purposes of denim, most people will fit into one of these shapes, or an exaggerated version of one:

Image courtesy of roxannewilson.com. For the purpose of today’s post, assume a circle or diamond shape falls into the category of rectangular with the key being not much waist definition. For another great resource on body types, look here.

Let’s move onto the details of what will work best for you. It’s crucial to remember that it’s more about HOW the jean fits and not necessarily the cut. You always want to look for whatever balances out your proportions and creates a long, lean, straight line:

Some more resources on finding the perfect fit:

And here are a few general guidelines for all body types on jeans:

If you’re short torso-ed, look for a lower rise, and if you’re longer torso-ed, look for a higher rise. The key is to balance out your proportions.

Darker washes tend to look and feel more professional and polished and are more flattering on most people. If you are allowed to wear denim at work, only wear dark washes.

Avoid light shading, detailing, stitching and distressing on jeans anywhere you don’t want to highlight, ie: your thighs or derriere. On the contrast, dark colors can mask your flaws.

Unless you’re pretty darn perfect, it will be hard to buy perfect fitting jeans off the rack (or any clothes for that matter). Nearly all pairs will need to be hemmed. Factor this into the price when you buy them. Hemming costs around $10-$20 and there are two types of hems; regular and original. Regular is literally just lopping off the end and sewing a new hem with blue stitching. An original hem uses gold thread and keeps the structural qualities of the original hem; the fading, etc and in my opinion looks much nicer. It will usually cost you a bit more than a regular hem. For a visual go here.

Speaking of the length, the jeans you wear with heels, should not be the jeans you wear with flats. Every girl needs at least three pairs of jeans. One for high heels, one for low heels and one for flats. The last thing you want is a messy torn hem because you’ve been wearing your long jeans with flats. Wearing the right length with the right shoes preserves the integrity of your jeans making them last longer and makes you look more polished overall.

For any three of those pairs of jeans, a longer length that just brushes the top of your shoe in front and skims the ground in the back provides the longest, leanest silhouette.

Finally, here are some care tips for your blues:

Only wash your jeans when they are soiled, stinky or way too stretched out.

Turn them inside out and wash them in cold water only. (Maybe even give that Cheer for Colors detergent a try??)

Hang or flat dry only.

Unless you’re going for an uber-polished Martha Stewart look, there’s probably no need to iron them!

Well gal pals, that wraps it up for this edition of Denim Diaries…as always remember it’s all about confidence and what you feel most comfortable in! Case in point…I wear skinnys and probably shouldn’t but I love ‘em! Now go forth and be beautiful!

Denim Diaries Pt 1

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Lacie Powell

Today and tomorrow’s post are directly inspired by a dear friend and reader of The POSH Blog. I always love getting ideas from fans! Overwhelmed by all the cuts and brands of denim, Kristina wanted a little guidance when it comes to selecting what’s right for her. Today we’ll go over the different brands and cuts and where you can buy your blues. Tomorrow it’s all about finding the right fit for you!

First…a game to stretch your denim skills! See if you can match the below jeans to their right brand and cut. It shouldn’t be too hard, there’s even a freebie in there! Leave your answer in the comments and you’ll be entered to win a fabulously POSH prize.

There are four basic cuts of denim:

{Skinny} Snug, body-concious fit, tapers at the ankle, leg opening is 10-12″

{Straight} Narrow, straight fit through hips, thighs, knees, and leg opening is 14-15″

{Bootcut} Fitted but comfortable through hips and thighs, slightly widens towards the ankle, leg opening is 18-22″

{Wide-Leg}Tailored and sometimes high waist, leg opening is 22″ or more

Within those cuts, sometimes there are smaller subsets of styles; for example, boyfriend jeans would fall under straight cut and capris normally fall under skinny cuts. Other styles are just exaggerated versions of basic cuts; for example, a flare jean is just a more dramatic version of a boot cut.

In addition to cuts, there are also varying rises (measurement between your hoo-ha and the top of your jeans):

{High Rise} 11″ or more, sits above waist and covers belly button (safeguards against muffin tops)

{Regular Rise} 9.5-11″, sits just below belly button (pretty practical and flattering)

{Low Rise} 7-9″, sits about 2-3″ below belly button (also flattering if you’re in decent shape)

{Super Low Rise} 7″ or less, sits about 4-5″ below belly button (we’re getting into scary Britney Spears territory here)

And washes as well:

{Light} Best described as a cornflower blue or lighter and appropriate mostly in summer months

{Medium} A true blue jean and flattering to most

{Dark} Think indigo or deeper and universally flattering

{Grey} Ranges from a light smokey color to a dark charcoal color for a more urban edgy look

{White} Super crisp to subtle ivory and great for summer

{Colored} Trendy this past fall and into spring in basic colors…think R.O.Y.G.B.I.V

{Coated/Metallic} silver/gold shimmery, some have been coated to look leather but I’m not entirely sold on them

{Distressed} Can refer to overall wear and tear or location specific distressing and shading ie: pockets, etc…be careful not to go Jersey Shore

Here are some go-to brands for jeans. Personally, there is nothing better than a great fitting pair of designer jeans. This is an area of fashion that I feel like you get what you pay for. Fret not, you can keep reading to find out where to score these brands at jaw-dropping prices.The list could go on and on but these are what I wear and can vouch for!

Now, where to find?

Individually branded stores (True Religion, 7FAM)

And now…drumroll please…some places to score premium denim at up to 1/4 of the price…

Plato’s Closet and other high end consignment stores (not just for teens, carry up to sz 14 sometimes 16 and my top pick)

Outlet Malls

In all these cases, I’d suggest trying on styles in store ahead of time so you know exactly what brand, cut and size you need.

Those are the basics peeps. Check back tomorrow to find out how to find the fit for you! MUWAH!

christmas qwinky

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by Lacie Powell

Ha. You thought I said Christmas Quickie huh? You’re presh but no. Whatever gets you by I guess…no judgement, I swear.

This is a fabulous cocktail that I just invented. And if you think you invented it well, just let me have my moment, ok? Remember that episode of Friends where Ross thinks he invented the slogan “Got Milk?”?

Sorry, I digress. This is delish. 3 parts Prosecco and 1 part Dixie Peach juice from Trader Joe’s (or if you’re driving, 0 parts Prosecco and 4 parts Dixie Peach juice) Toss in some fresh fruit as a garnish and presto…a yummy cocktail to serve at your holiday party.