DIY Luminizer

After hearing pretty much universal raves about RMS Living Luminizer, I finally got my hands on some to give it a whirl. It is indeed a pretty awesome product- it adds just a slight shimmer to your skin, extremely subtle so you don't look like a glittery rave kid, but enough to make you look, well, luminescent, I guess. Healthy and glow-y.

But, clocking in at almost $40 for a .02 oz pot, this stuff doesn't come cheap. I got mine through Dermstore which was kind enough to throw in some free gifts and a 2 year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens, which made it a little less painful (no, I'm not affiliated, but I do like free stuff.) Still, though, it's a big investment when your beauty budget is as piddly as mine. Update: That subscription never came, BH&G says it never existed, and Dermstore never told me. Thanks a lot, jerks. 

So I took a look at the ingredients:

Castor seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, tocopherol, rosemary extract, May Contain titanium dioxide, mica. 

So... two oils, beeswax, vitamin E (another oil and a preservative), rosemary extract which I'm assuming is for scent, and basically...mineral make-up. Titanium is generally a whitish powder and mica adds sparkle. So it's essentially like putting on a light coat of mineral shimmer, and using wax and oil to moisturize and glue it to your skin.

Hmm. I can do that. Commence experimental luminizer!

(But first a warning: melted waxyoil is not particularily easy to clean up! Cover your workspace and be prepared to soak the dishes for awhile. Very hot water helps melt it off, obviously.)

Materials: 

Beeswax
Coconut oil
Fine-grain, shimmery mineral eyeshadow (1/4 teaspoon total shown, but I recommend more more more!)
A little pot to put it in
Microwave and microwave safe bowl
Oven mitt

I figured castor seed oil was probably used as a cost-saving measure more than a necessity, but you could use it if you wanted. Grapeseed would also probably work. I left out the vitamin E since I didn't have any handy, and coconut oil/beeswax don't exactly spoil quickly anyway. If you want a little scent, you could put a tiny droplet of essential oil in- just make sure it's not one that will irritate your skin. Mine just smells like coconut and honey, it's kind of lovely. I used 1 part beeswax and 2 parts oil, which gave me a fairly creamy texture, a bit softer than the original. To make it harder, use more beeswax; for softer, use more oil.

The mineral eyeshadows I used were two sample size pots from Bad Bitch Cosmetics (LOVE, btw) in Miranda and Yuki-onna (similar, but Yuki is a bit more sparkly.) You could use anything fine and shimmery- use a cooler, silver-based shimmer if your skin is cool toned, and a warmer, gold-based shimmer if you're warm toned. I thought I would need just a tiny bit of eyeshadow but I ended up dumping both whole containers in, and could've still done with more. If I make this again I think I will use twice as much, at least- unfortunately I've exhausted my supply of white-ish shimmer powders for now. In any case remember that the eyeshadow can really make or break it- go for a super-fine texture to keep from looking glittery.

Start by measuring out your wax and oil.

Chop or cheese-grate the wax into little bits, which will make it easier to melt. Put the wax in the microwave safe bowl and start heating it up in 20-second intervals, stirring in between. (You could also use a double boiler for this- it would probably be easier, but with such a small amount of stuff it seemed a little silly.)

When the wax is almost totally melted, add in the coconut oil and put it in for just a little bit longer, until it's all nice and uniformly liquid. (If you're using liquid oils, I think you can probably add them after the heating-up step. Be wary of heating any oils with a low smoke point.)

Take the bowl out very carefully (it will probably be insanely hot at this point- use the oven mitts) and pour the mineral eyeshadow in. Stir it up well and dole into little containers.

Attempt NOT to make a huge mess out of it. Seriously, it's like I'm 5.

Set them aside to cool.

**This part is key! **

Periodically as they are cooling, you need to go stir them up again! Otherwise, the sparkle will sink to the bottom. Eventually they will get too hard to stir, so it's imperative to hit that sweet spot when it's viscous enough to hold the shimmer in place, but warm enough to manipulate, and really mash it up.

Result: 

My version is a bit creamier and a bit more sheer, but it does the job! It's actually perfect as a slightly-luminizing hand cream or lip balm, at this texture. (Also, great for clavicles and other areas that you want to highlight, but where you really don't want it to look like you've got make-up on.) To truly match the original, you'd want it a little harder and with more eyeshadow- I may also try a little translucent powder to give it a drier texture. On the other hand, with a bit more oil and a yummy smelling EO, it would be a fantastically rich body lotion that would give you just a little bit of glow all over. Adding some flavor oils would make it extra awesome as a lip balm, too. Go nuts! I'd love to hear what you guys can come up with!

It's also worth noting that even though I had silvery shimmer, mine came out more warmly-toned, probably because I used yellow beeswax (white beeswax wasn't readily available locally- you can order it online though!* ) Given the ease and price, though, I'd say it's a win- you could experiment with the ratios all day and be sparkly head to toe, given that each batch probably costs about $3-5, depending on how much eyeshadow you throw in there ;-) I smell Christmas presents for every chick I know coming on... assuming I figure out how to put things in a jar without sloshing it everywhere.

*Just FYI that's an affiliate link, which means I get a little kickback if you use it, but no pressure! 

10 Tips for Bridesmaids (especially broke ones)

 

Photo by lizzie photo, who are based in Grand Rapids, MI and absolutely amazing. 

One of my childhood besties got married a few weeks ago and I was honored to be a part of the bridal party. This was my first time as a bridesmaid (despite having gotten married myself a few years ago. Always the bride, never the bridesmaid.) I figure future first-timers could learn some things from my various good and bad decisions.

1. Check the sales rack 
If you're doing one of those "same color, different style" (or vise-versa) things, make sure you check the sales rack. I just happened to find a dress of the right color, in a style I really liked, for waaay under list because they were discontinuing that particular color in that particular style (no rhyme or reason at David's Bridal, but there it is.) It needed to be altered to fit me, but the non-sale dresses would've had to as well. If your bridefriend hasn't dictated a particular store (some brides just say "all black" or give you a color family) then you've got a lot of options. The bridesmaids in my wedding wore dresses from actual J Crew bridesmaids' dresses, to things from Asos (the search-by-color is very handy), to $20 dresses from Forever 21 (in my family, getting stuff cheap is a point of pride, so my sister/maid of honor was sure to let me know that tidbit.) Modcloth is a great site for dresses, too.

2. Budget for alterations
Expect that you'll need them, especially if you're all getting dresses from the same source (not every brand fits every body, after all.) Expect that they will cost as much as or more than the dress. Know that the little sheets they give you that say "Alterations from $XX!" are pretty much lying because it will not be $XX. Also know that it costs extra to preserve the pockets when they're resizing things, but luckily you are not much of a crier and the bridesmaid next to you will probably be nice and put extra tissues in HER pockets just in case ;-)

3. Do everything early
Expect everything to take longer than you think it should. Aim to have your dress/shoes/etc in hand and perfectly sized by two months before the wedding...and that should ensure that you've got in time even if murphy's law kicks your ass. Also the earlier you get started, the more likely you won't get rushed into paying more than you want to for things.

4. Buy shoes that fit
Mine did not. They kept slipping off my heels, even after I put heel grips in. I ended up using fashion tape to tape them to my feet, which worked better than you might expect, but was not ideal. Oh! Also! Bring fashion tape! And rubbing alcohol. Trust me.

5. Have a plan for your boobs
If you're already dropping a wad on alterations you might as well have them put bra cups in your dress. Totally worth the $20 not to have to deal with a strapless bra. Plus, they add a little vavavoom, or at least mine did. But if not that, make sure you've got a boob solution that will work with the dress and not peek out during rambunctious photo sessions.

6. Wear the damn hose
I hemmed and I hawwed soooo much about wearing pantyhose. To me, nude pantyhose speaks of going to the office and/or church in the 90's. But also, I am a dark haired girl with lily-white skin and a predisposition towards ingrown hairs and easy bruising. There is a reason that you don't see pictures of me with bare legs! So hose it was, and it looked fine, and kinda helped keep me warm. I think the key is to aim for something that matches your skin tone (no trying to look tanner) and keep it kinda sheer. The first part is tricky if you're as pale as I am, but they're out there. They were only a problem when I had to remove them on the beach, surrounded by groomsmen, so we could do a toes picture (also probably should've painted my toenails. Prepare for all contingencies!)

7. Plan for the reception
Most brides aren't so 'zilla that they won't let you get a little comfier during the reception. Bring flats in the same color as your ceremony shoes (or at least a coordinating neutral) and a nice sweater that goes well with your dress. You may not need it, but it's good to have. And you WILL need the flats, unless you're some sort of goddamn stepford-wife-club-girl who can dance all night in heels after standing around in them all day.

8. Test drive everything
Try it all on. Your friend's wedding day is NOT the day to learn that your underwear shows through the dress, or to try liquid eyeliner when you've never used it before, or to find out that your shoes give you crazy blisters after ten minutes.

9. DIY what you can, but only if you're competent
If your bridefriend is cool with you doing your own hair/nails/make-up it will save you a bundle. I got my nails done, but did it a day in advance at my own salon instead of paying for the one at the resort which was pricier (and honestly...I probably could've done that same nude manicure myself, as long as I managed to be patient and let the layers dry for once. But it's nice to indulge sometimes.) My hair is so short that I was spared the hairstyling question, and I'm pretty good with make-up after all the self-educating I did for Doomsday Knits. Again, practice in advance, but if you can pull it off, go for it. Everyone's looking at the bride anyway, you just have to look presentable but plain enough to make her look good.

10. Remember why you're there 
Brittany (my friend) was like the chillest, least reality-show-nightmare bride ever so this kind of didn't even apply, but speaking as a former bride... weddings are stressful. Your friend is getting married. She's under a lot of pressure. She's probably obsessing over details that don't truly matter in the grand scheme of things but which seem like extremely grave issues right this very second. As long as she's not pulling this shit, suck it up and remember that she's your friend and you love her, and she will probably be normal again after all this is over.... at least til baby fever hits.



(Bonus Tip: These stupid things are surprisingly fun at bachelorette parties.)

Outfit: June 4

Shirt: Flimsy Boyfriend Tee by Mezzanine from Conversation Pieces
Tank: American Eagle Boyfriend Tank
Jeans: Levi's 524 Too Superlow Skinnies
Shoes: BCBGeneration ballet slippers
Hat: My pattern, Slouchy, in Malabrigo Mecha


So I just discovered Conversation Pieces through Audrey at Putting Me Together and I'm kind of in a lot of love. It has so much of the stuff I've been hoping to find in stores, and the prices are totally decent. The packages arrive all wrapped up pretty, too, which I am such a sucker for. I like to think I don't immediately see a blogger I like link to something and then go run off and buy a bunch of stuff from them, but in this case... totally did. (Well, two things. And like ten on the wish list.)

   

 Lookin' good.

Outfit: June 1st

Dress: Rewind (Pssst- Kohl's is offering CAF readers a 10% discount til 7/11 with code "BLOGGER10")
Tights: Look from London "Palm"
Shoes: Guess
Bag: The Sak Pax Large Cross-body
Sunglasses: No idea. Some cheapycheap brand.

My second friend of the season got married yesterday. This might not have been an entirely appropriate outfit for a Catholic church wedding (or as my mom, who was also invited, put it, "That's a little...wild, honey,") but I don't really "do" bare legs, sooooo oh well.

 

In other news, I'm having way too much fun with this Stilly app that Lee(thal) turned me on to. I wish it could make slightly longer, less twitchy gifs, but still. Fun!

Revamping Your Style Part 2

This post picks up where this one left off - if you missed the first one, I recommend starting there!

Step Three: Compare your list to your Wardrobe 

Basically this step involves doing a big closet clean-out with your new "list of shit I like" in hand.

Start with four piles/bins/boxes: "Keep", "Storage", "Ditch", and "Fix."
Caveat: You ONLY get a Fix box if you know you will actually fix things, either by DIYing it or taking it to a tailor. If you know in your heart that the Fix box will sit around untouched for months (*coughcoughIdontknowwhatyouaretalkingabout*) then skip it. 

Now go through your wardrobe piece by piece and ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I love this and have I worn it in the past year? 

2. Does it fit well and flatter my shape? 

3. Is it in good shape? Or could it be improved with repairs/tweaks/a dye job? 

4. Does it fit in with my list of style elements? 

A "no" on 1 goes immediately to Ditch (exceptions can be made for things like "the dress you only wear to other people's weddings" as long as you like it a lot and you're pretty sure you'll need it in the next year. Otherwise, ditch it, you probably won't like it anymore by the time you need it.)

A "no" on 2 goes either to Ditch or to Fix, if the fit issue is something that can be fixed (if it's too big, it can usually be taken in, but if it's too small you're probably out of luck.)

On 3, if it has issues but they are fixable and you know you'll do it, put it in Fix. Otherwise, Ditch.

If you get a "no" on 4, but you otherwise love the piece and want to keep it, put it in Storage (same for anything else you just can't bear to Ditch. You can also put out-of-season stuff in there.)

Everything else is a Keep and can go back in the closet- I recommend doing the "backwards clothes hanger" trick- hang everything up backwards and then when you actually wear it, hang it back up the right way. That way you can easily see what's not ever getting worn.

The Ditch box gets donated/sold/given away/tossed. Schedule a time to tackle the Fix box, ASAP- if you need to drop it off at a tailor, do it TODAY. If you're doing it yourself, pick a time to sit down with your sewing machine and get on it. Put the Storage box somewhere out of the way. In a year, if you haven't needed or missed something in it... Ditch it.

Step Four: Identify Gaps & Shop Smart 

What elements on your list are woefully underserved by the clothing you currently own? In my case, I love long oversized sweaters and own precisely ZERO (I've been on the lookout for the perfect one recently, but no luck yet- I'm very picky about fiber and softness. I'll probably have to make one, hah.) It has also become clear to me that I should buy a nice trench coat, and some more flannel shirts. I've managed to fill some other gaps: basic foundation layers in blacks, whites, and grays, things with stripes, black leather leggings, some jackets, some boots. By trying to limit my palette to the colors I'm most drawn to (neutrals and almost-neutrals, mostly, with some reds thrown in) I'm left with stuff that coordinates pretty well, which makes getting dressed easier. Put those missing items on a list and keep it with you so that when you're shopping, you know where your weaknesses lie.

Also keep that list of elements with you, so you can see where a potential purchase fits in (or if it does fit in at all.) Avoid buying things on your "conspicuously missing from my style board" list- they're probably missing for a reason! Obviously you don't have to be too strict about your list - if you love something, you love it, whether or not it "fits in" with your lists, and who the hell am I to tell you what you can and can't buy? - but by keeping your lists in mind you can avoid falling into the "but it's in style!" trap. It doesn't matter if it's in style if it's not in your style, you know what I mean?


And Voila, you're done!  Keep pinning to your boards, and revisit your list a few times a year- your list is bound to change over time as new trends that you love crop up and you get sick of other ones. I try to brutally cull my wardrobe about once per season (which is also a good time to peek in on your storage box and see if you're ready to part with any of it yet, or if you absolutely want any of it back in the drawers- plus you can swap seasonal things in and out.)

Anyone else have a great style-identifying or wardrobe-organizing tip? I'm all ears!  

Revamping Your Style with Pinterest

I have an almost pathological fascination with categorizing things, particularly fashiony things. I used to buy books like this and devour them (secretly of course, since they were pretty embarrassing,) hoping on some level to come across a style, and label, that fit me precisely.

I didn't, of course. Most people don't fit neatly in those subcultural style boxes. Which is a good thing, I think! I realize now that being too easily defined is kind of boring. Why be "goth" when you could be "Mad-Men-Secretary-Glam-Goth" or "90's-Grunge-Meets-Cyber-Goth"? Or, you know, both, and more, on different days, whenever the mood strikes. But nonetheless, knowing what your personal style is (no matter how many hyphens it takes to define it) is really useful when it comes to putting together outfits that you actually feel good in and shopping for clothes that you'll actually wear. And that is where my bff Pinterest comes in.

Step One: Start Pinning 

First things first, if you're not already on Pinterest, join up! Or you can use a folder on your computer, or some other sort of bookmarking app... I like Pinterest because it lays it all out nicely (and you can usually click through and find out where to buy items you really love, or at least look at other outfits that that person put together.)

Make a board or folder for style inspiration and start filling it with outfit pictures you like. The more, the better- it will probably work best if you give it a week or so and just keep filling it up. To find outfits, you can use the "Women's Fashion" category on Pinterest, or check out "social fashion" sites like Lookbook and Chictopia. One of the best ways is to look at other people's style boards on Pinterest- you're likely to find people who have similar taste, and they'll have a goldmine of great pics. Finding the boards in the first place can be tricky but just searching for "outfits" or "fashion" will turn up lots of goodies- and when you find a picture you like, it will show you other places it has been pinned, which is a great way to dive down the rabbit hole. Try to include some outfits that are work appropriate, if you work in an office or other environment with a dress code- you definitely want to keep those in consideration too!

Be very liberal in your pinning. Don't worry if you don't like every detail about the outfit- if it catches your eye, pin it. My rule is that if I stop and ask myself "hmm, should I pin this?" the answer is always yes.

Step Two: Analyze 

Now the fun part. Once you've got lots of pics, start looking for patterns. What colors turn up often? What sorts of garments? What textures? What silhouettes? What "feeling"? Do you have tons of romantic dresses, or lots of very structured blazers? Lots of pastels, or neons, or blacks? Make a list of all the different elements that seem to come up time and again.

When I look at my board, my list looks something like this:

• layers 
• grays, blacks, rusty autumn colors, other neutrals 
• long and oversized tops, especially over leggings or skinny jeans 
• tall boots, both leather and rubber 
• ankle booties 
• combat boots 
• leather everywhere 
• knits 
• solid colors 
• stripes 
• flannel 
• distressed elements 
• tights (esp with shorts) 
• tall socks (often layered over tights) 
• trench/long coats 
• leather/biker jackets 
• sweaters over button-up tops 
• jeans with heels 
• cut-offs 
• skinny jeans 

Overall impression: cozy, a little bit classic, a little bit grungey. (I still don't have good words to define it but at least that's a starting point.)

Notice also what is conspicuously missing (in my case- ruffly, feminine, romantic things, and most pastel colors) and write them down. Weigh the items on this list against what is practical for you, and remove anything you know won't work, no matter how much you like it- for example, I almost never wear heels and probably am not going to start (I love them, but they hurt, so if I have to walk at all they are right out.) You may know that certain colors or silhouettes don't flatter you, so take those off the list as well.


Continued in Part 2! 

Outfit- May 16

 

 Oh snap, did I just do the second outfit post ever after a long delay and totally wear the exact same sweater? Yes, yes I did. But it's a good sweater. Also, look, a hype button! I barely know what it does but I think if you click it, good things happen somehow. 

Cardigan: Charter School Cardigan in Peacock from Modcloth 

Tank: James Perse - it is a very pale minty green though you can't quite tell. 

Tee: "One Step Up" ie super cheap shitty tee that they sell for $5 around here. You'll notice I have a bunch of those, from like three different brands. 

Jeans: Grane Jeans- this is such a weird brand, I found this pair secondhand and it fits me better than any pants I've ever owned. But I keep trying to get another semi-duplicate pair off ebay (same brand, size, and in one case style) and all the other ones fit like crap. 

Boots: Minnetonka fringe boots. I think this style was discontinued- I found them on sale at DSW, whoopwhoop! 

Hat: Bivouac!

Styling tip: See how I have a wide horizontal band of light color around my hips? Both the horizontal-ness and the light color will make them look wider, especially on top of the black jeans (which have the opposite effect, being vertical and dark.) If you're like me and don't have a ton of curves, it's a neat trick. My hips are one of my more lady-like features so I don't have a problem with playing them up. But if you're not looking to widen your hips (which most people aren't, I think) then darker colors and avoiding horizontal lines there would be better (maybe by having a longer top layer that covers the bottom layer).

Other styling tip: Who am I kidding, 80 degrees is too hot for a hat and cardigan. I cling desperately to fall fashion all year round, I'm afraid.