Swoon Lab

the bourgeois hippie part 1

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:26:00 +0000

I kind of consider myself as a bourgeois hippie... meaning that while I appreciate luxury/materialistic things, I do have an innate passion for nature and well-being. Every time the subject of something like forests, marine-life, animals, or health and well-being comes up, I get so into the discussion that I can ramble on about it. I recently went on a camping trip and just driving up the mountains to the campsite was such an amazing thing to see and to think that the forests are depleting at a fast rate really affects me. Or even when there's a brush fire that burns a vast amount of acreage, it really makes me sad (and not to mention very angry especially when I find out it was due to arson). And ocean life has also been suffering. At one point, numerous species of fish such as tuna and cod were plentiful and now it is a scarcity due to overfishing. What once were common fish are now a rarity.

My health has kind of been out of wack. I've been so inconsistent with my diet - either not eating at the right times, not eating anything, heffing out, or doing good for a while, then somehow I break down and have to eat a hot cheeto. It's horrible! But after watching the documentaries, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Food, Inc., I have really been inspired to take control of my health again, be consistent, discipline myself and support local farmers. From that, I've also been inspired to plant some seeds and grow my own mini garden with fruits and vegetables that are in season so that not only do I know where my food is coming from, but so that it would just help me learn to take care of something. And I plan to do that garden asap!

AND! I was totally enamored by Farmer Joel Salatin (Polyface Farms Owner) in Food, Inc. because his philosophy on his line of duty is the same as what swoonLAB's philosophy is to me:

"I have no desire to scale up or get bigger. My desire is to produce the best food in the world and heal. And if in doing so more people come to our corner and want stuff... then heaven help me figure out how to meet the need without compromising the integrity. That's where I am."

I really just want to make people look and feel good about themselves. There's nothing else that makes me happier than seeing someone see themselves in a way that they never thought possible. And if I've done that, then I can go to bed knowing that there's 1 more person in the world who's life I have inspired. That is all.

It's day 2 of my 40 day detox (I've ditched carbs, sugar, and all processed foods - only eating fresh fruits, veggies) and I actually feel pretty good. Don't get me wrong, I do get mad cravings to eat sushi, or cheetos, but I know that if I want to make a difference and live a long, healthy life, it needs to start now. And um, before I started this detox, you know I went straight to Mc Donald's and got myself a Big Mac and fries.

I HAD TO!

When it comes down to it, I really want to preserve the few remains of beauty that we have left on this Earth (both human and environmental) and protect is from diminishing - or at least slow down the process...

It's going to be a challenge, but it's something that I'm willing to do... but breaking away from leather is probably not going to be in my future anytime soon... I'm borurgeois, remember?!

Check out this website to see how you can "take part" in being more healthy not only for yourself but for others while also protecting the environment.

ARTWORK & PHOTOGRAPHY BY swoonLAB

skinny, healthy & very alive

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:56:00 +0000

There's nothing that I love more than watching documentaries. It doesn't matter what the piece is about, I just really love watching it. It can't get any more real than that. I'm especially a huge fan of documentaries on MSNBC (Lock Up, Witness to Jonestown, Dateline). I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called, "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead." It chronicles the journey of 2 men who are overweight and trying to get their health back in order through a 60 day juice cleanse. I know that sounds very cliche and typical for an LA girl to be interested in a juice fast, more specifically if it's from Pressed Juicery in Brentwood, but the documentary was very inspiring and you really begin to identify and care about the people featured in it. You really are going on the journey with them as they try to battle horrible health issues, mental and physical fatigue and you really just hope that they stay strong and fight through their diseases and sickness and become happy, healthy people.

I don't want to give away the whole story or ending, but it truly is something that everyone should take the time to watch. It's inspiring, motivating and makes you think about the current state of your life/health and where you want to be in the future. With that being said, it really motivated me to get back into a healthy lifestyle, and it was just in time too since I went grocery shopping yesterday and purchased soy milk, some honeydew melon, cantaloupe and leafy greens.

Part of having a healthy lifestyle is all about preparation and moderation. I really need to set the time aside to prepare my lunches, actually eat breakfast and make healthier decisions. It's hard when people send brownies to your office or when 3 cookies at subway are only $1.25 or when the manager just throws them in your bag and says, "don't worry, they're on the house! See you tomorrow, ok!?" Arghhh.

If I have things in writing and if they are in my agenda, then it becomes concrete and everything is going have to work around that. Again, like I said before, if my friends want to hang out with me, we're going to have to do something active. I really like this article from Women's Health Magazine that helps create a work-out and meal plan (see here!).

Also, have I ever mentioned how obsessed I am with Glaceau SmartWater?

I think it's time...

~~Stella~~ Raychel gonna get her groove back if she wants to endorse SmartWater.

MAKEOVER x swoonLAB (RAQUEL PART 2)

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:24:00 +0000

Last Saturday, I posted a makeover I did of Raquel (see here!). This is part 2! Way before the colored ombre hair was a trend, she has that thing on lock! She had this interesting tumble of an aqua-ish green spread out through her hair and I thought it was really cool! It really took me by surprise because before we were "real friends" and were "just classmates", she came across at the quiet type. We started to interact more because we both had a mutual friend and we all worked on a project together and would study for some really hard math class at school until the janitor would kick us out. It was then that we started to talk more and she would ask me questions about hair and makeup and we started to open up to each other more. When we graduated she said, "we really should hang out sometime... maybe we could go eat sushi or go shopping or something," and I was like, "yeah totally for sure!" and I didn't know if she really meant it, but she really did! And when school was over, that's when took the time to play around with her look and teach her about really good products to use and HOW to use them and really transform her.

HAIR
Raquel has short, thin hair and her main concern was wanting to make it look fuller, longer and voluminous so... I gave her a weave. HOLLA! We went to the local beauty supply store and bought 18" length human hair extension clip-ins. Since her hair was really short, I had to cut the hair pieces so that it would blend nicely with her real hair. Then, I began to style it...

First I lightly spritzed her hair with a heat styling spray. Then I used a 1.5" curling iron and curled her hair outwards (leaving the ends of the hair un-pinched in the curling iron) in loose waves so that it would blend into her real hair even more and give her that tossled, beachy look since we were going to have our mini-photoshoot at the beach. I then finished off her look with a fine mist hair spray so that it would give her hair movement but still hold the curls in place. I then shook my hands through her hair to break up pieces of her hair to make it look imperfectly perfect - you never want to look like you're trying too hard.

MAKEUP
Eyebrows: One of the best things about Raquel is her eyes. I really wanted to make them pop, but in a smoldering, sultry way. First thing I did was define her eyebrows. Brows are really important because it's what frames your face and makes you look really polished. She already has a really nice shape, so all I had to do was fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil and extend her brow length just a little bit and then groom it with a colored brow gel.

Eyes: Normally, she lines the waterline of eyes (bottom rim) with a black eye pencil, but I told her to not do that anymore because it makes her eyes look really harsh and actually makes them look smaller. She has beautiful, big hazelish, green eyes that I refer to as snake eyes because they're kind of glowy but translucent. I used a soft brown waterproof eyeliner and just lined the bottom lashline NOT the inside rim. This not only defines her eyes, but makes them appear larger. I then swept a soft shade of taupe eyeshadow all over her eyes (even to the brow bone) as a base, then used a really soft seafoam green shadow only on the corner of her lids and extended it outwards - again making the eye appear larger. I finished it off with a few coats of black mascara and applied a few individual lashes on the corner of her eyes to add a fluttery effect and widen the shape of her eyes.

Face: I used a sheer foundation to add a bit of color to her face and make it glow (she has perfect, blemish free skin so we didn't use too much product) and dusted some finishing powder. I wanted to make her cheeks bones glisten a little bit so I used a light dusting of bronzer and a gold highlighting powder.

Lips: We finished off her look by applying a soft nude lipstick with a baby pink gloss on top.

DETAILS
Face: MAC Face + Body Foundation, Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights Bronzer (Baked Stardust), MAC Mineralize Skin Finish, Bobby Brown Shimmer (Bronze)
Eyes: MAC Eyeshadow (Shroom & Aqiadisiac), Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner (Espresso), L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (Carbon Black), Anastasia Brow Wiz (Medium Ash), Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel (Brunette)
Lips: L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick (Fairest Nude), Kat Von D Lightening Sheer Lip Gloss (Retox)

Makeup, Styling & Photography by swoonLAB

LANA

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:20:00 +0000

For the longest time, I used to wear ALL BLACK. Nothing else. I'm a bit more colorful these days... i.e. grays, taupes, blushes, and cremes. I practically only have 4 colors in my closet (shade variations don't apply). I always said that if I lived in Spain, I would wear colorful dresses, have a golden tan and sunkissed hair. Maybe that will happen here in America, but I don't think it'll be anytime soon. Although the thought of breaking away from the norm is nice. But for now I'll just experiement with color on my nails... but even then I still resort to opaque skin-toneish nudes, patent chocolate-browns, and maybe the palest lilac.

And even though it's summer, I like to wear sweaters; particularly loose-knit sweaters - (anything that is drapey, or openly woven) I throw it on over a body-con dress or a long maxi dress, clunky booties or combat boots and I call it a day. Since the sweater isn't heavy and is lightweight and sheer I don't get hot and flustered. I'd probably be more hot and flustered if I was wearing a white t-shirt.

I'm really obsessed with oatmeal colored pieces and have been for a while now and can't get enough of it.

DETAILS
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell (Lana)
Sweater: Random
Black Tank Dress: H&M

Photography by swoonLAB

MAKEOVER x swoonLAB (ALEX)

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Alex is one of my oldest friends (and one of the first) that I made in college. As long as I've known her, she's always had really short, pixie haircuts or had her hair pulled back in a cute bun and always had side-swept bangs. She only wore mascara or eyeliner which I never even noticed, unless I stared at her (not in a stalker way). She recently got extensions and I couldn't wait to see it because I just couldn't imagine her with anything but short hair. I always told her that she should have large, wildly fierce lion hair but she would always say, "Ew, why? That would look weird. I'm not an animal." And I'd say, "No trust me, it would be cute. Obviously we don't have the same vision of what wild, lion hair is." She's super creative with her outfits and even more creative when it comes to costumes - last Halloween she designed a cupcake outfit and even put sprinkles on her lips. I was a "peacock."

I picked her up last weekend to go to the LF Sale in Larchmont Village and when I yelled out her name through the window, she came out of her door with long, pig-tail braids and she looked so free-spirited and bohemian-chic. It was so shocking and exciting at the same time to see her in a different hairstyle after knowing her for 4 years. I decided to give her a little makeover with the makeup she already has and we threw on this really cute lacey dress that made her look like an etherial princess frolicking in the garden (so corny, I know). Her next hair experiment is going to be the wild lion hair... see! I know what I'm talking about. I have good vision :)

DETAILS
Face: Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 15
Eyes: Mayebelline EyeStudio Color Pearls (Bronze Blowout), MAC Plush Mascara (Plush Black), MAC Eye Kohl (Smolder)
Lips: MAC Surf, Baby! Lipstick (Bust Out), MAC Tinted Lipglass (Nymphette)

Makeup & Photography by swoonLAB

THE MAKEUP BAG (CRYSTAL)

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:22:00 +0000

If there's one thing I wish I could do and get away with it, it would be wearing bright colored lipstick... I just can't do it. I can, but I just don't feel confident or feel like myself. My look has pretty much been the same since 6th grade: nude lips, glowy cheeks and black eyeliner. I guess you can say that that's my signature look. But I love it when I see other girls wear makeup in a different way than I do and it just suits them so well. Crystal is my colleague at work and I remember her first day at the office - she was wearing bright fuchsia lipstick and I was stunned. She really pulled it off well and didn't make it look tacky or sleezy or worse - a clown! But most of all, it really suited her persona. Crystal barely ever wears makeup (she doesn't need to) but she does love a good tube of lipstick. The brighter, the better. That's her thing... "I love makeup. I really do. People just think I don't because I don't wear a lot of it." I took a look in her makeup bag and all she had was a pink Chanel blush, a few colored lipsticks and a mini tube of Clinique High Lengths Mascara that I gave her from a Clinique Bonus Time purchase of mine. The only thing I used outside of her own personal makeup was a sheer silvery white eye shadow to make her eyes stand out a bit more.

It's amazing to see how makeup can change someone's attitude. When we first put the bright pink lipstick on she was very happy and energetic, but when we put the red lipstick on, she became more subdued and chic. I guess here at swoonLAB we found the right formulation to make Crystal bubbly or sultry.

DETAILS
Eyes: Revlon ColorStay 12-Hour Eyeshadow: Nude Elements (only used the white shade), Clinique High Lengths Mascara: Black
Face: Chanel Joues Contrast Powder Blush: 99 Rose Petale
Lips: MAC Lipstick: Girl About Town (Pink), Ruby Woo (Red)

Makeup & Photography by swoonLAB

MAKEOVER x swoonLAB (RAQUEL PART 1)

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:22:00 +0000

The other day I met up with Raquel at Urth Caffe. Instead of my usual Green Tea Blended Boba with Coconut Flavor, I got a Thai Iced Tea Boba instead... felt like switching it up a bit. Raquel and I have been friends for a little over a year now, but we knew of each other for probably 2 years. It's funny how we didn't become "real friends" until we graduated college. People tend to let their guard down and have more of a sense of camaraderie towards the end since we endured the same tests, same projects, cray professors and annoying classmates. But, we both agree that last summer was probably the best summer ever... we just graduated. We didn't have any homework. We always went to the beach and tried to get tan, errrr, more like I was trying to get tan because I'm naturally really white and "pasty." We went on many new outdoor/nature adventures (Descanso Gardens, hiking, beach), and heffered out (mainly at Lala's). After seeing her, it just reminded me of all the good times I've had with her in the past and seeing that she's moving away to Boston in a month, I wanted to go back and revisit our friendship. I went through my computer and found so many pictures and videos and it was like I was reliving those moments all over again. Some made me feel happy, a lot of them made me feel nostalgic, and others had me laughing at how douchey we are (more like just me), and how much we both have grown in together in our friendship and separately in our personal lives.

But my favorite part of that summer was helping her unleash her inner-diva and seeing herself in a new way that she never would have seen for herself. I FREAKIN' LOVE MAKEOVERS!

She told me that she always wanted to try an edgy but fun look... a bit of rock, but not too grungy... this is what we came up with...

DETAILS

Raquel
Natural Look:
Face: MAC Face + Body Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish (Comfort)
Lips: Vaseline
Eyes: LORAC Multi-Platinum Palette (Serenity), L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Anastasia Brow Wiz (Medium Ash)

Edgy Look
Face: MAC Face + Body Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skin Finish (Comfort)
Lips: MAC Lipstick (Blankety)
Eyes: MAC Eyeshadow (Carbon, Soba) Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner (Onyx), L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Anastasia Brow Wiz (Medium Ash)

My Look
Face: Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation: , MAC Mineralize Skin Finish (Comfort)
Lips: NARS Lipstick: Belle de Jour
Eyes: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil (Zero), L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Anastasia Brow Wiz (Medium Ash), MAC Brow Set (Show Off)

Makeup & Photography by swoonLAB

WELCOME BACK, YOU

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:18:00 +0000

Things are going to change around here...

And I'm starting with myself. I'm all about clothes and makeup, but for a while, I wasn't using much makeup and I wasn't dressing up either (hence my absence in writing posts). My inner-diva went on sabbatical. I'm not sure if it was voluntarily, or un-voluntarily. I think it was just by default. And it happened. But I'm coming back now.

I think I was going through a phase where I felt like dressing up daily and putting on some mascara was just a waste. My reasoning was, at the end of the day, the clothes are coming off and the face becomes bare and none of those extras matter. But really, they do matter... to me they do. My whole persona is about thudding around in cray cray shoes on the daily, expanding my leather jacket collection, or being exciting to share with people my latest and greatest discovery in foundation and bronzers. That's ME!

I'm not saying that people should be extreme and should either only wear a shit-ton of makeup and over-the-top outfits, or be completely bare-faced and wear yoga gear, what I'm saying is that people need to do what makes THEM feel happy and confident about themselves.

I, personally am not exactly the poster child of au natural, it's just NOT me. However, I AM the poster child of enhancements and bringing out the best with what I have and working with it.

MY PERSONAL CHECKLIST OF ESSENTIALS TO EMBRACE YOUR INNER-DIVA & FEEL GOOD
1. Crest White Strips - Banana Chicklets as teeth are not cute. I have one slightly crooked tooth that bothers me, and it's in the front of my mouth :( argh, but I keep my teeth clean and white and make it look as good as possible. Also, invest in a spin tooth brush. It really keeps your mouth and teeth "dentist office clean." And, it's passe to brush your teeth manually these days anyways (errr, not really... that's just me being a betch)
2. Get Your Nails Done - For reals. Unkept hands and feet really bother me, and a few my friends who "get me." I once read an interview on Enrique Iglesias (in 6th grade... in Teen Bop... or J-14... or Tiger Beat perhaps) and he said that when he meets a girl, the first thing he looks at are her nails (hands and feet) because it's a sign of how well she takes care of herself. Don't do it for other people though, do it for yourself... and for the sake of not being the person people secretly talk about at a social event when you're not around. They don't HAVE TO be polished - trimmed, filed and gunk free shall suffice.
3. Subscribe to Women's Health Magazine & W Magazine - One is for your health and well-being and the other is for creative inspiration. Both are important. It's good to have balance in your life. And it's good reading material for the gym or when you're waiting to get your car serviced... :D
4. Good Music - Every month I usually make a mixed CD... a little bit of my current favorites, a little bit of my all time favorites, new discoveries and then some random things thrown in. There's not a day that goes by that I'm not listening to music. It's what helps me get by. The favorite part of my day is actually driving alone in my car to work and back home because I get to zone out and get into the groove. If I start off my day with the wrong music, my whole entire world is thrown off. A few of my all time favorites:
Deerhunter- Agoraphobia; Vox Humana
Interpol- Specialist; Public Pervert (pretty much all their music)
Radiohead- Black Star; Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Strokes- Evening Sun; Soma
Amy Winehouse- Frank; Just Friends
5. Green Tea Blended Boba with Coconut Flavor from Urth Caffe- I wish I was the mayor of Urth Caffe (Beverly Dr. location) on Foursquare, but I'm not. No matter how crappy one of my days can be, I swear, if I just get a Green Tea Blended Boba with Coconut Flavor (I've gotten so many people to order it that way), suddenly the day doesn't seem so bad and I can accomplish anything. My alternative... A Regular Green Tea Blended Drink from Coffee Bean... maybe with some whip cream if I'm feeling sassy.
6. Perfume/Cologne - Eau de Parfum, NOT Eau de Toilette and none of that AXE shit. ... Eau de Parfum lasts longer and "toilette" just doesn't sound appealing anyways (sounds like "TOILET"). I have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell. I can smell anything, everything, tell you what notes there are and what something dries down to... but that's not always a good thing because that also goes for bad smelling things. I think it's important to smell good and have a signature scent.
7. Shu Uemera Eyelash Curler - Apparently they no longer sell this in the U.S. (that's what SHE said), but if you curl your lashes it makes a HUGE difference in your appearance. It gives your lashes the most perfectly even, curvacious curl to your lashes which instantly opens up your eyes. Hands down, this is the best eyelash curler because it fits the actual shape of your eye, unlike those jank kinds at drugstores. Save your $5 to buy a Mickey D's value meal... then cry about it... then sweat it out for 2 hours at the gym... then go home and eat chocolate cake and then swear that "the diet starts on Monday"... at least that's what I do.
8. Go Hiking - Or do something active and get your lazy ass outside. I've made it a point that if my friends want to hang out with me, we have to do something active. I hate going out to eat. I don't want to "go grab drinks" because I hate the taste of alcohol and realized/accepted that I'm allergic, and I just find those types of social gatherings very boring anyways. However Lala's Argentinean Grill, Versailles or Urth Caffe, or Yogurtland are an exception.
9. Go to Disneyland - Who goes to Disneyland pissed off? Who arrives to Disneyland pissed off? And who leaves Disneyland pissed off? I don't think you could ever be pissed off at the most magical place on Earth. If I could, I would go to Disneyland everyday... as long as the temperature isn't hotter than 82 degrees fahrenheit.
10. Be Yourself - This is the most important step. It's the first thing we are taught as youngsters and the rule doesn't change as you get older.

AND... the most important part on my list...

11. Wear a robe - Terry. Silk. Waffle Knit. It's all amazing. It's the most comfortable thing ever and it's literally life-changing. I just can't wear normal clothes at home. It's too constricting.

THIS IS ME. BASICALLY. PRETTY MUCH. IN A NUTSHELL.

This checklist may not apply to A LOT of people, but these are things that I like. Different strokes for different folks :)

Thank you. Now, sashay away.
(btw, I LOVE RU PAUL).

DETAILS
Face: Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
Eyes: L'Oreal Paris Carbon Black Intense Liquid Lineur
My Favorite Knit Sweater: From a random store on Melrose I always go to that doesn't even have a sign

Makeup by swoonLAB. Photography by Leslie Rojas

KIEHL'S ULTRA FACIAL OIL-FREE FORMULAS

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:23:00 +0000

The random heat waves in LA are annoying me. I walk outside for 2 minutes and immediately I get super hot and flustered, and on top of that, there's road construction everywhere so I'm baking under the ~~Tuscan~~ LA sun moving slower than an inch-worm. With that being said, I do not like shiny skin -- and when I say shiny, I mean the kind where it looks like you dipped your face in Crisco cooking oil (not like someone would ever do that?). So, to keep shine at bay, I opt for oil-free formulas that keep a good moisture balance in your skin.

I recently just picked up the new Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Set at Bloomingdales and since using it, I don't worry about the 3pm glow (when you randomly look in the mirror and go, "whoa, why am I so shiny?"). The good thing about this set is that you get 3 pieces for the price of 1! SWOON. You get a full size bottle of the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion and a travel size version of the oil-free cleanser and toner. Naturally, the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion is $24.50 alone, so you're getting a good deal here.

Did I mention that I'm a huge Kiehl's fan and I think that they're formulas are magical not just because they work, but because I like their packaging. Can't get anymore chic and classic than that! Expect more Kiehl's related posts to come.

p.s. I've been under a rock and seemed to have just emerged, mentally and physically (I went on a jungly backpacking safari during the 4th of July weekend - well, not really. I just went camping in Big Bear and heard coyotes. I think that had a negative effect on me... but I'm here now).

Photography by swoonLAB

SILVER GLITTER

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Last night I went to Target with the intentions of buying camping essentials for the 4th of July weekend, but I ended up with nothing camping related - face wipes, silver glittery nail polish and an issue of Glamour Magazine with Heidi Klum on the cover. Well... in my mind it's relevant and I was able to justify it:

Face Wipes: easy to clean your face after being hot and flustered from hiking a gnarly mountain
Silver Glittery Nail Polish: it's not black; it's not exactly neutral; but it has enough POP to it... AND we probably can use my nails as shiny reflectors for a source of light in the night
Glamour Magazine: I just felt like getting it

I really like how the glitter in the nail polish is NOT subtle, but it's NOT super blingy (hate that word). But because it's silver, it's neutral and easy to wear and goes well with all the Amish-eclectic inspired outfits (all in various shades of black and grey) I packed for camping - because that's usually people wear when they go camping? Maybe I was subconsciously planning a Fall 2011 photoshoot for Free People or Ralph Lauren or something.

DETAILS
Revlon (Sheer Petal), Milani Jewel FX (Silver).

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:33:00 +0000

When I look through magazines, I can't help but be inspired by the articles they publish. That's what they're there for, right? I practically took all the elements from the magazine tear-out above and reiterated it into one look. I don't wear eyeshadows all the time. I'm more of an eyeliner kind of person. I've been into semi-matte skin finishes - fresh looking, but not too bare. A little bit goes a long way. An easy tip is to grab a metallic eyeliner (I like Aqua Eyes from Make Up Forever in Bronze and Gold or L'oreal Hip Color Chrome Eyeliner in Gold Charge) and simply just put it in the corner of your eyes. For added definition, I also smudged a black liner on my lower lash line. I tend to switch up products when it comes to bronzers, highlighters and blushes, but recently I've fallen back in love with Bare Escentuals All-Over Face Color in Bare Radiance. It gives your skin a fresh healthy glow. I'm not a fan of skin that looks too shimmery or glittery; it just looks too.... SHIMMERY & GLITTERY.

Magazine tear-out from Harper's Bazaar June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:28:00 +0000

I have found my soulmate (fashion soulmate, that is!) and it's in Harper's Bazaar Australia Fashion Editor, Christine Centenera. I love the way she mixes tough pieces (leather and studs) with soft, delicate pieces (knits and lace) and exudes the attitude of a cool b*tch. If I could raid anyone's closet, it definitely would be hers. She's the ultimate swoon in my book. Her collection of leathers, furs, blazers and studded things totally blows my dinky collection out of the water :(

Also, check out a nice post of her HERE!

Images from TrendyCrew

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Images from Jak & Jil Blog, Stone Cold Fox, Random

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:24:00 +0000

As long as I've been experimenting with makeup, I've been on this never ending search for the "perfect nude lipstick." I have my all time favorites (Nars Belle de Jour, L'Oreal Fairest Nude and MAC Blankety), but what really makes the perfect shade of nude is what you are wearing with it. Some shades work with warm color palettes (i.e. the bronze look, or a medium beige rose blush) whereas it wouldn't work with a cool color palette (i.e. a smokey blue/grey eyeshadow, shimmery pink blush). Below are my favorites at all different prices points and textures, but my search still continues.

Nars Lipstick: Belle de Jour (sheer), MAC Blankety (amplified), L'Oreal Colour Riche: Fairest Nude (creme), MAC Myth (satin), MAC Freckletone (lustre), L'Oreal Colour Juice Stick: Personali-tea (satin), Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Shine: Natural Brown No. 25 (sheer)

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:58:00 +0000

What you wear under your clothes is just as important as what's on the outside. When I go shopping, I seem to make my way towards the loungewear section (I'm really obsessed with robes, but I'll save that for another post). I wear a lot of loose, lightweight shirts, tanks and blouses, so I like to wear things that are comfortable, functional, yet delicate. These are my favorite (from American Apparel, Urban Outfitters and some random boutique on Melrose) and I buy them in bulk; generally in black, creme and tan.

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:45:00 +0000

I don't really experiment with color in my wardrobe. I only have 5 colors in my closet (black, ivory, grey, taupe and blush - in various shades) and only tend to wear something bright and festive during Christmas dinner with the family. However, when I do experiment with color, it's on my nails. With the nail foil trend changing the game in the beauty industry, my favorite line is Nail Couture LA. I've tried other nail foils before and found them to be too thick and hard and don't adhere to my nails very well. They just released the Summer 2011 Bright and Bold Collection and are having a launch party at Live! On Sunset and it's going to be really fun! I will be wearing these awesome zig zag print foils (pictured above) inspired by blogger duo, The Ray and The Ro.

See details below for the launch party!!!!

NCLA: bright and bold collection promo from David Gallardo on Vimeo.

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:03:00 +0000

I've been doing a massive spring/end of summer/get my life together/get rid of everything cleaning. The biggest thing that I've been working on improving is my room. I was browsing on Apartment Therapy and found these images above. I'm super-obsessed with that clear filigree wall thingy (excuse my poor interior design lingo) and that green fuzzy plant. Those two things are a must-have on my list! I want my room to be a place where I can rest, but also be productive... I'm so not productive in there. The times I actually am home in my room is spent watching Rushmore and Bored to Death or Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I did however reach my goal of getting rid of hidden junk in my room (the under side of the bed served as a home to many old term papers and craft supplies) and organizing my magazines.

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:24:00 +0000

The most important thing in my makeup bag would have to be my L'Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara. I have been using this mascara since 7th grade (9 years ago) and every time I try something new, it's just not the same.

Not only do I buy it in the regular formula, but I also buy it in waterproof, and this is why...

IT SCARES ME WHEN GIRLS CURL THEIR LASHES WITH MASCARA ON!

It is the most horrific thing I've ever seen and it's NOT GOOD for your lashes. You're practically killing them! So I've found a solution. After curling your BARE NATURAL LASHES WITH NOTHING ON THEM, apply a light coat of the waterproof Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara. I've discovered that it sets the curl (I'm sure all of us have discovered that when we curl our bare lashes they stand up and once we apply mascara, they seem to have gone limp). After doing that, then you can apply the regular Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara. All you need is a light coat of the waterproof mascara and it sets the curl and you can apply as much of the regular formula. I do this because it's easier to wash off. And when I say you can add as much as you want, I really mean that. That's because this mascara does not clump at all. It just keeps adding more volume to your lashes without creating fat tubes/spider legs around them.

Hands down, best mascara ever (and inexpensive)!

p.s. I also LOVE my L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense liquid liner (mascara is more important to me than the eyeliner though). The liquid liner thing is pretty new to me, and I never really knew how to use it properly, but I learned how to do it. Sometimes I like the effect of a clean line than my usual routine of just smudging a kohl liner on my lash lines.

noreply@blogger.com (christina raychel) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0000

In the June 2011 Issue of Harper's Bazaar, they featured the reproduction of Classic Coach pieces that were originally produced in the 70's (my all time favorite era). Last summer while going vintage shopping, I picked up two original pieces. I saw the black one and it had a top handle with a long strap and I had to have it. At the time, I also was really into small bags with long straps in pop colors (I normally only wear black or neutrals) and picked up the Small Leather Shoulder Bag. The Classic Coach bags are available online on Net-A-Porter. They didn't reproduce my black bag, but the red one is available. There's just something really special about vintage leather goods. It just feels authentic and only gets better with time.