MARC JACOBS has launched his beauty line! per the request of some of my awesome followers (and of course my own curiosity), i’m going to indulge in the fabulousness this weekend.
stay tuned for my thoughts on MJB…
secrets revealed: how to get beach waves all year long
are you looking to keep those sexy beach waves going long after your vacation days have expired? well fear not my fabulous followers, i have just the trick(s) to staying beach-tastic year round.
two of my favorite wave-making products are…
1. BLOW PRO: BEACH BLOW TEXTURIZING MIST
and
2. BUMBLE AND BUMBLE: SURF SPRAY
and i have two ways for you to use either of my sprays!
1. after showering, towel dry your hair so it is slightly to moderately damp. *if you need to brush out any tangles, do it now. then give your locks a little lift by flipping your head over and, using your fingers, mess with your roots down and scrunch down to your ends.
2. spritz either of these magical mists on your locks…making sure to get good coverage while not going overboard. *if you feel like you went overboard, you probably did.
3. blow dry, without a brush, to get a messy, beach look.
another way to work in beach waves is…
1. after showering, apply a smoothing product, such as “beauty protector: protect & detangle.”
2. towel dry and brush out your hair.
3. do a messy blow-out, without a brush, until your hair is almost dry but not entirely. *make sure to thoroughly dry your roots, volume is key!
4. sprinkle the tiniest bit of water on your hands and quickly run your fingers through your locks. *you don’t want you hair to feel wet again, just slightly misted with water. an alternative to your fingers is using a spray bottle.
5. spritz either of these magical mists on your locks and, using your fingers, scrunch your hair up from the ends to create waves. you’ll want to get your hair (not the root) slightly damped with the mist to ensure you have enough product to hold the look.
6. let your hair air dry into fabulous beach waves.
—
personally i prefer the latter technique as i feel like i have more control over the end result. use a little spray, scrunch, use a little more, scrunch…and repeat until i see the waves i desire.
just a few easy ways to grab the look for those pesky months that actually going to the beach is off-limits!
xo, b
where do i find it? bumble and bumble as well as blow can be found at most beauty supply stores…
sephora: http://www.sephora.com/surf-spray-P280513?skuId=1270776
ulta: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1450322
love your locks…again
i just love it when someone tells me i smell good. call me vain, but a compliment to know i’m doing right by myself sure makes me feel good. am i right ladies?
well you’re in luck because i have a truly perfect hair product that will not only prove to be irresistible to any lucky lad or lady in your vicinity, but you’ll be smelling your own hair every chance you get!
oh yea, and you’ll be reviving your locks too…
introducing the “of a different world” BEAUTY PROTECTOR – PROTECT & DETANGLE
this amazing, light-weight formula not only smooths unruly strands, it moisturizes, it protects your locks from heat & sun, it softens/conditions, it detangles (duh!), and it smells absolutely PHENOMENAL*. I cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die promise that you will see a difference in your hair after just one use…yes, i said one. and i shouldn’t forget to mention that you’ll be addicted by then too.
i’ve tried numerous serums and Beauty Protector has stolen my heart. my hair feels softer, lighter, and more voluminous. it dries faster, is less frizzy and i have noticed an overall improved appearance. are you sold yet?
how to use: after showering, towel dry your hair and then spritz BEAUTY PROTECTOR on your locks to make them oh-so-luscious. dry and style hair as usual.
where do i find it? beauty protector is a BIRCHBOX exclusive. there’s currently a waitlist for the item (i just found out!), so i’d suggest you get on it…
http://www.birchbox.com/shop/beauty-protector-protect-and-detangle-spray
xo, b
*note: i generally hate capital letters for anything other than emphasizing amazing-ness (and introducing a new product). so you can trust that it’s THAT good.
prime crime
over the past few years, i’ve been asked why i stopped posting on “a girl on top” and every time someone asked a ting of regret passed thru me. for those of you who haven’t had your own blog before, a blog really does have a life of it’s own. it’s this great, albeit time-consuming, thing that once you have a taste, you just want more. A too much of a good thing isn’t bad though, right?
well, when i decided to focus on my film career, i could not maintain G.O.T. to the extent i had wished to. since 2011, i’ve had incredible experiences working at strong and successful production companies and on fabulous films such as Celeste and Jesse Forever and, the currently in theaters, The To Do List, but I cannot deny that i’ve missed being Miss G.O.T.
so, that question of “why i stopped” is something i’ve recently thought long and hard about. and you know what? i don’t have a good enough answer to it to keep the lights off here at G.O.T. i loved bringing you new and exciting products to add to your vanity and i want to fill that void I know you’ve been missing!
if you’ll have me, i hope you’ll join me once again for the fun we used to have!
to lure you back in, i decided my first post back had to be my favorite new vanity addition. a dear friend’s younger sis introduced me to a line called LIME CRIME not too long ago and the staying-power of this amazing lipstick truly is a crime.
i’m currently loving the RED VELVET VELVETINE.
it goes on glossy, finishes matte and i dare you to try to get it off your lips. go ahead, take a sip of that drink. perhaps even kiss that boy.
i was at a pool party recently, sipping on a frozen lemonade, cooling-off in the pool and my red lips did not stray.
i stayed perfectly poised for the entire day with fabulously matte and never-retouched lips. all a girl really needs is a good mascara, rosy cheeks and a great red lipstick…and ladies, i’ve found my little black dress of red lipsticks.
here’s a peek…and yes, that’s me…in the pool…being fabulous:
where do i find it?
LIME CRIME is only available online, currently…
Thirst Quenching Shampoo
Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo is the shampoo for dry hair. This wash has almost a lotion-like texture that will transform your parched strands to fabulous locks.
It’s floral-clean scent makes you feel (and smell) like you’ve just stepped out of the salon. Who doesn’t love that?! Dry Remedy is infused with buriti oil, a rich source of vitamin A, which provides your hair with the nutrients it needs to stay strong, smooth and supple on a daily basis. And it’s even safe for color treated hair. Amazing!
I’ve been using Dry Remedy for about 9 months now, and my hair has never felt better!
*Fact of the day: Buriti’s literal translation is “tree of life.”
I mean, come on, you can’t go wrong with something called the tree of life!
Mango Madness
Gals —
Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Cream Shave in Honey Mango will change your life. Cross my heart, hope to d…OK I don’t hope that, BUT it will at least change your shaving life for the better.
Let’s review:
#1 Shaving Pros
Not only does this shave cream go on silky smooth, but it leaves your legs that way too. Over 24 hours after I shaved my legs, a friend of mine just had to steal a feel because they were still shiny and smooth.
The lotion is just thick enough to protect your skin from those harsh razors, but still provides you with a close and clean shave.
#2 Health Pros
Honey Mango Shave Cream is made with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E…thus giving your skin the nutrients it needs to remain moisturized and vibrant. Even better, the product is 100% vegetarian and paraben-free.
#3 Superficial Pros
OH. MY. G-D. This stuff smells soooooo good. Legitimately, I will pop the top sometimes just to get a whiff…even on non-shaving days.
Plus, your legs will look so damn good.
#4 Purse Pros
A tube of this baby will run you under $8. Wow.
Guard your lotions, Ladies. Once your boyfriend, husband, best friend, whatever learns that this shave cream is gender neutral, you’ll be fighting for shower time!
This Girl on Top will never go back to the dark side. Honey Mango Shave Cream is where it’s at.
A Gal’s Real Pal
Gal Pal’s the name and what a gal’s pal they are! These dainty pink foam sponges are a girl’s best friend when deodorant streaks come out to play.
Yes, another product I swear by. I bought my first pack of Gal Pal Garment Deodorant Removers before heading off to Michigan for my freshman year of college (shameless plug, GO BLUE!).
And guess what? I can still use that first pack…6 years later! Keep them clean and tucked away nicely and I promise you this will become one of your best investments yet.
Should the Deodorant Witch come around and stain your gorgeous garment, just wipe your Gal Pal over the dreadful spot and watch your white streak woes disappear. It’s magic! I’ve used Gal Pal on practically every fabric in the book, and I promise they work like a charm.
Also, check out the other fun and funky Gal Pal products at the link below!
Spa Week, Part Two…and Three
Spa Week is back, Ladies. As we end the first week of spa fabulousness, I wanted to point out that there is ANOTHER spa week just around the corner (October 11-17). So book book book!
*Some spas participate in “spa month” so be sure to ask about their month-long deals.
Happy Spa-ing!!
Bashful Beauty
I’ve mentioned Alessandra Cosmetics before and now I’m bringing her back to wet your lips a little more. For the last few months, I have been using Alessandra Bashful Blush in Liliana and I absolutely adore it.
As a gal with pretty fair skin and freckles, Liliana is the perfect rosy-pink (with a splash of shimmer) to give me that fresh, radiant glow. It actually kind of makes me want to break out into song, “I feel pretty, oh so pretty…”
Ok, enough of that. Back to the information you’re actually here for…
I’ll never forget my grandfather once told me I should use make-up with shimmer for my cheeks “like the movie stars do.” I was probably 14 when he said this…obviously I’ve been scarred for life…but he did have a point.
Shimmer adds radiance and who doesn’t want to be radiant (or a movie star, ha)? Therefore, Bashful Blush seems to be just the right fix, huh?
Bashful Blush comes in a petite compact case that makes it simple enough to just throw in my purse for on-the-go use. Oh, and I almost forgot, it comes with a stowaway mirror/brush AND it has SPF. Could this blush be any more perfect!?
This Bashful Blush gets your Girl on Top’s seal of approval.
Be sure to check out the other Alessandra Bashful Blushes here:
Shellac me, baby
HELLO GORGEOUS! I’m back in action and I haven’t come empty-handed. Ladies, I would like to introduce you to my new (nail) best friend, CND Shellac.
Now, I have known about Shellac for some time, BUT I was skeptical of its staying power and I most certainly didn’t favor it’s price tag.
HOWEVER, after much deliberation and a momentarily lack of self-will, I tried this “shellac.” I have to tell you ladies, I was really impressed. And when I say really, I mean omigod-my-red-nail-polish-was-shiny-and-did-not-chip-even-slightly-in-two-yes-TWO-weeks impressed.
Yep, you read that right. TWO WEEKS CHIP FREE. I was amazed. I even marked my calendar on the day I had my nails done to prove shellac’s staying power. And to prove it to you, below is a short list of things I did while the shellac was on my nails. If this doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.
Honestly, I should be doing a freaking infomercial for this stuff.
Here goes:
The LA Mud Run (4 miles of crawling through mudpits, doing hoola-hoops, you get the drift)
Hot Yoga
A trip to Palm Springs where I lived in the pool for 2 days
Shower (obviously)
All right, that’s enough. But come on, the MUD RUN and that stuff stayed on? Try to do that with your regular nail polish…YEA RIGHT!
So here’s what I’m thinking:
Shellac is rather pricey ($40 give or take a few bucks)
BUT if you’re getting a manicure each week like I do, here’s your math:
Week 1 ($12) + tip ($3) + Week 2 ($12) + tip ($3) = $30
Tip included, you’re looking at about a $15 difference. So this is the question I pose to you, how much is your TIME worth?
For those of us on a bit tighter of a budget, I think I’ll save my shellac expenditure for vacations and special events — places I most certainly don’t want chipping.
Either way, this stuff actually works!
*Not all nail salons carry shellac, so you might have to do a little shopping around!
a girl on top 