Monthly Must-Haves: March

Did you hear? It snowed today here in Michigan, breaking a record from 1880 with a total of 94.8" of snow this winter. Lovely, right? Yesterday, it was almost 70 degrees in the morning, and today I was pulling out my boots again! When will it ever end?? Just when I was getting exciting about pulling out my favorite springtime beauty products, I'm right back to slathering on facial cream and using hand lotion like it's nobody's business. The forecast for the rest of the week looks less bleak than today, so I'll stay optimistic that I'll be wearing my favorite spring Chloé fragrance soon.

This winter, I tried lots of new products and found some new favorites that will become part of my permanent arsenal. I figured I'd share my most-used products from March. Here's to hoping that April's favorites are more suitable for sunshiny days!

Clarisonic Mia 2: There is absolutely zero exaggeration in me saying that the Clarisonic is a lifesaver. We all hear bloggers and gurus wax poetic about how great a Clarisonic is for your skin, but until you've tried it for yourself, you won't be prepared for how beautiful it makes your skin look and feel. I'll do a separate post on my new love for my Clarisonic, but know that I've been using it every single day!
Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Bang: This creamy orangey-red lipstick was my go-to when my face was feeling a little blah. It really brightened up my complexion, wore for a long time, and felt very comfortable on the lips. I like the Revolution formula, and added a few more shades to my collection this month.
Oribe Crème for Style: I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Oribe products. Last year when I was using them, I felt like my hair got really greasy really quickly. It might be because of the fact that my hair is lighter now (meaning a little more texture), but I've been using this cream every day before blowdrying. It keeps my hair nice and sleek, and smells amazing.
Sephora Collection Classic Brow Filler Brush #100 and Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Ebony: It's been an ongoing struggle trying to find the perfect product to fill my brows in with. They look dark in person, but in pictures, you can barely see them (even though I keep them thick). This waxy cream makes my brows look sculpted and deep. Beware, though: a tiny bit goes a loooong way.
essie Nail Color in Forever Yummy: I've been looking for a classic lipstick red polish for some time, but am never satisfied. This is it.
Josie Maran Argan Oil: My skin is super oily, so the idea of putting even more oil on top of it is terrifying. Like I said, it has been a treacherous winter here in Michigan, and my skin was thirsty. I would dab a few drops of this on dry spots and watch them disappear. I am probably alone in this, but I do wish this oil was scented; I feel like a nice, light fragrance would make it feel more luxurious.
Prada Candy L'Eau: I wore the parfum version of this fragrance last winter, and oddly enough, it would make my chest break out every time I would put it on. This version is still sultry but a little lighter, and had no adverse effects on my skin. Did you see that there is now a Floral version of this scent? I might be in fragrance trouble…
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara: I'm not really sure what the point of the hourglass wand is, but the formula is a beautiful inky black that allows me to wear multiple coats without looking clumpy or flakey. A new favorite formula, for sure.

What were some of your beauty necessities last month? Are there any products you're really hoping to try out this spring? Did it snow by you this week? Leave comments, and I'll talk to you all soon! Xx

ModCloth presents "Uniquely You"

Happy Thursday! It's been a quick minute since I've posted last, but between midterms and making up the ten million snow days (I'm not complaining), it's been a busy few weeks. Now that we're back in the swing of things (not to mention another school vacation coming up soon - yay!), I thought I'd share with you some exciting new developments over here in the Valley!

A few weeks ago, I was approached by ModCloth to participate in the Uniquely You campaign, where bloggers like me put together some seriously stylish Polyvore creations featuring the best picks from ModCloth.com. If you're not familiar with ModCloth, they are a giant e-retailer offering the most adorable retro and vintage pieces at really amazing prices (remember that adorable mug in my snow day post?). This week's set features the Evening of Extravagance dress ($160, available in sizes XS to 4X), a black and beige lace confection perfect for a glamorous evening out. When I saw the dress, I automatically pictured a crimson-lipped crooner at some swanky French lounge; hence, I present "La Chanteuse."

Have you shopped with ModCloth before? What are some of your favorite pieces on the site? Leave comments, and I promise lots of more exciting news and posts coming up soon! Xx

Hey hey, snow day!

It. Is. Cold. I'm talking 10 degrees, feeling like -4. The northeast coast of the United States is absolutely frigid, and Michigan is no exception. Remember this scene from "The Day After Tomorrow" when the helicopters freeze instantly?

Okay, okay, it's not that serious, but even after countless winters and horrible snowstorms year after year, we Michiganders are spoiled babies! Lucky for me, teaching is one profession where inclement weather calls for a day off. I'm talking snow days, baby! I think the only people who get more excited for snow days than students are teachers (although my inner panic at rearranging next week's lesson schedule is slowly creeping in). If you were fortunate enough to stay home today, staying warm and cozy is of utmost importance.

Did you stay indoors today, or were you brave enough to venture out in the cold, cold weather? I know I'll be doing a little snow dance for another day off on Monday! Xx

Louboutin Nails

Hi dolls! While I can't claim this as my genius handiwork, I just had to share my friend Teslah's amazingly gorgeous manicure. Inspired by Christian Louboutin's Swarovski crystal-studded Dafodile pump, this is one luxe paint job. She went with stiletto-shaped tips, covered in a chunky silver glitter polish (I believe she said she used Essie's Set in Stones; see my review of the polish here) with a lipstick red on the underside. Below, her manicure compared to the Louboutin shoes, worn by the fabulous Beyoncé. Sorry the picture is a little blurry, I guess I got too excited to keep the camera shot still!

Even with a broken middle finger, this mani is fierce!!

 I think this take on the Louboutin manicure is fabulous! So, what do you think? Brave enough to try this look, or will you stick with something more demure for the holiday season? Xx

Winter Fun

Winter Fun by atrpcevski3 featuring tote handbags

The perfect outfit for chilly winter activities. In soft fabrics and shiny finishes, chic neutrals are never boring. Complete the look with knit accessories and sparkly holiday nails. Enjoy! Xx

Heaven in a Jar?

Light blue sky, fluffy white clouds, pure bliss; these are the makings of heaven, right? Well, it's no coincidence that this small blue jar from Clinique holds my own personal Utopia. I was never one for night creams. My daily lotion worked just fine for me, and my oily skin certainly didn't need any extra moisture. But as the months grew cold and the air became dry, I noticed some flaky patches around my eyes and mouth. Cue this little bit of heaven! Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer (whew, that's a mouthful) is rich, creamy, and dreamy!

I purchased this cream from Nordstrom for $46.50 USD, which I consider to be a reasonable price for a night cream. When I asked the salesgirl if this product was oil-free, she responded, "nothing is oil-free." Huh? A quick glance at the packaging informed me that this product is indeed oil-free (a necessity for my rather oily skin), and made me raise an eyebrow at the less-than-informed employee. But enough negativity! I've been using this cream for almost three weeks, and the difference is more than noticeable. My skin looks brighter, smoother, and the pre-wrinkles (is that a real term? If not, TM that son of a gun!) on my forehead are much softer. Clinique products have always worked wonders for me, and this little gem is no exception. The box states that this is for "very dry to combination oily" skin, and I truly believe it will suit all skin types. If you're looking for a night cream for the winter months, or need a little more moisture year round, I'd give this a try.

The texture is to die for!

Have you changed your skincare routine to accommodate the winter weather? Have you tried this this heavenly cream? If not, what's your favorite night cream? Leave comments below! Xx

I'm a Jerk.

Yes, I'm a big jerk because every once in a while I promise to get back on the blogging wagon, and while I stay on said wagon for a couple of weeks, I always fall back off. Blame work, blame school, blame laziness, whatever. The point is, I solemnly swear to blog (OFTEN!) again. Maybe it's because I have a ton of new, fun stuff I'd love to share, or maybe it's because nothing beats autumn/winter beauty and fashion. So here it is, my declaration that Valley of the Dolls is (really...no slacking this time) back in business. Just give me a few hours to get things together for you. ;)

Xx

Maybelline Baby Lips

I am such a sucker for advertising and packaging, it's sick really. I see something in a magazine and I think, "Wow! I need that," even when I don't need it at all. I kept hearing about Maybelline Baby Lips balm and reading about it in magazines, so of course my natural instinct is that I need it, I must have it, I can't live without it. This is one of those times where I was pleasantly surprised.

I have tried every lip balm under the sun, and usually they work just fine, but this winter, my lips have been chapped and flaky and allover gross. I've been using some Nivea balm that really just doesn't thrill me. My lipstick has been looking ridiculous because my lips were in such poor condition. I picked up Maybelline Baby Lips at Target for less than three dollars, and instantly my lips felt better. It claims to take four weeks for full lip recovery, but I can feel a difference in only one night. If you're like me and suffer horrible dry lips, I fully recommend this balm.

Oh, and Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous evening last night, and I hope you all have an even better 2012 filled with love, happiness, and health. Lots of fun stuff coming up in the New Year, I'm very excited about it all! Have a great day. Xx

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve by atrpcevski3 featuring a tuxedo blazer

Holiday Nails with Essie Luxeffects!

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up two of Essie's Luxeffects polishes. I think these are relatively new (they're the Holiday 2011 collection, so I guess that's as new as they could be) and I absolutely love them. Essie intends these polishes to be used a topcoat (which I didn't...Seche Vite goes on top of everything for me), and they add a seriously beautiful effect to any polish color. The two that I purchased are Set In Stones and Shine of the Times. Set In Stones is a silver glitter with hexagonal and micro-particle pieces, and Shine of the Times is an iridescent, almost opalescent flakey glitter. 

Both are stunning, especially when layered over another polish shade; I stuck to dark base shades so that the glitters would be more prominent (Russian Navy underneath the silver glitter, and Black Onyx underneath the gold). I tried to go for a snowflake-y thing with Set In Stones...I'm not sure if it turned out as well as I would've hoped, but it's still pretty. Oh, and excuse me for the sorry state of my cuticles in both pictures - yuck!

I'm usually a fan of glitters only in the wintertime, and I think the new Essie Luxeffects are a really pretty way to make your nails look more festive. Do you like glitter polishes? Have you tried any of these? Leave comments below and let me know what you think! Xx

Vampy lipglosses

I went to Sephora yesterday looking at different lipsticks, and I decided to pick this gloss up by NARS.  The gloss is called Bougainville, and the Sephora website describes it as "pomegranate".  I think this (and another similar gloss that had a bit of shimmer in it) is part of NARS' holiday collection.  It's a dark berry color that's dramatic without being overpowering, and there is no shimmer in it at all.  I really like NARS lipglosses, they feel great on and the colors are all so pretty.  I also think this gloss would look great with a deep lipstick underneath if you're looking for something more powerful.

Yesterday, my best friend Tori and I exchanged Christmas gifts (a little late, I know).  She got me this fabulous gloss by Kat Von D.  I really love Kat Von D's line of cosmetics; everything is super-pigmented and lasts forever.  This particular gloss is Hellbent, and to me, it's a perfect blood red.  It's one of the Painted Love glosses, meaning that it's more opaque and pigmented than her other glosses.  I love to wear a red lip, and usually I wear MAC lipstick in Brave Red with Lancome Juicy Tubes in Berry Bold over it.  This is a nice one-step product that gives a high-impact red lip.  My only problem with this particular product is the smell, which is kind of weird and fruity.  Not too strong to deter me, though!

I really love to do a dark, dramatic lip, especially in the winter.  I know the general rule is to wear neutral eye makeup if you're going to wear a dramatic lip, but I still wear tons of liner and mascara.  Below are some pictures of me wearing each color.  Pardon the messy application, haha.  Try one (or both) out, I think you'll enjoy them!

NARS Lipgloss in Bougainville

Kat Von D Painted Love Lipgloss in Hellbent

Things I've been obsessed with lately

L'Occitane hand cream - In the winter, my hands get so disgustingly dry that they bleed. Literally. I am 21 years old with the hands of an 80 year old. I tried this cream once, and have been hooked ever since. The fragrance is so nice but not at all overpowering, and it's super thick without being greasy. It's worth every penny.

My Ray-Ban glasses - Every time I wear these in public, I get asked whether they are prescription glasses.  The answer is YES! I just bought Ray-Ban sunglasses and popped the dark lenses out. I feel like they are old-school and classic, but also very stylish. I think I can wear them for a while.

L'oreal Texture Expert Mouse Volupte - I can honestly say I have tried like, 90% of hair products on the market, and while I find some that I like, this one really takes the cake. My hair is weird- I've got a ton of it (making it a real pain to blowdry), but it's really soft and limp, meaning it never holds a style. This mousse makes my hair nice and big.

ASOS.com - This British fashion site has become my new go-to for accessories. Their stuff ranges from 5 to 500 dollars, and you can pick the maximum and minimum prices in your budget. I have found some really cool, affordable pieces on this site, and everything arrives very fast.

Nail polish - I don't know when I became a freak about nail polish, but my addiction has reached gross proportions. Every time a new polish collection comes out, I neeeed to try at least a few different shades. I don't even paint my nails that often! I've got so many, I could open a nail salon. I usually stick to dark polishes (let's be honest, most of them are black tinged with a hint of blue, green, etc.), but I like to try anything.

"My So-Called Life" on Hulu.com - The entire series is available on www.hulu.com right now. I'm not sure if it'll expire or not, but I've definitely been watching it. I totally remember watching it when I was young, but I was only 5 when it originally aired, so honestly, how much did I even understand? Catching up on it now makes it all the more addicting. I want to buy the DVD set!

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation - I always have a problem with my foundation staying on my face. No matter what kind of foundation I use, it comes off about an hour later. I don't know if it's because I touch my face or what, but trying this foundation was a smart idea. It literally stays on all day! It looks very natural on my skin, and for someone who is pretty picky about foundation, this one is a winner.

Rosebud Salve - No words necessary.  Just try it.

Phytomer Hydracontinue Moisturizing Base Skin Cream - Long name, I know. My esthetician recommended this skin cream for me, and I love love love it. It's got a gel-cream texture that isn't too heavy, but moisturizes beautifully, even in the winter. It doesn't irritate my skin, but just soaks right in and feels amazing.

My MAC Pro Palette - I just got one of these recently and I love it. I used to buy individuals of every single color, which was a pain because I was running out of places to keep them. It also became annoying to take a million eyeshadows with me whenever I travelled. This is much more convenient. I have a feeling I'm going to fill up a bunch of these.

Any new obsessions for you?