Review: Suave Professional Dry Shampoo and Conditioner

About two weeks ago, I went out with the intention of buying the Got 2 Be Dry Shampoo, but came out with the Suave one instead. It was around $2 cheaper at I believe $4. It has quickly become a new holy grail item of mine. It blasts away greasy roots and flat, stringy strands. Quick warning though, it comes out white, so if you have dark brown- black hair, be careful with the application. Since my roots are a light brown, I spray it in at night and brush it through. By the morning, it's all soaked in and it's back to it's normal color. I usually use this on third day hair because my hair is pretty dry and on the thicker side. I do have to wash my hair on the fourth day though. That's about as far as I'm willing to stretch it. So after I raved to my mother about this shampoo, she came back the next day with the matching conditioner. I had never heard of dry conditioner before that, and was skeptical at exactly what this product would do to my hair. Well let me tell you what it did for my hair, it made it shiny, soft, silky, and slicked down little frizzies. WARNING: A little goes a long way with this stuff. Try to only apply two or three sprays on the mid shafts and ends of your hair. Brush it through and you should be good, but if you go overboard it can make your hair flat. I like to use this after I'm done styling my hair because it comes out clear, so I don't have to worry about it looking unnatural. The main gist, is it's an amazing hair product that's unique and cheap. A can of the conditioner is about half the size of the shampoo, but it's also a dollar less. They both smell like heaven, but the conditioner has a stronger, more lingering scent. If you're not big on fragrance than I would not recommend either of these.

Overall Rating (Out of 5 stars):
Conditioner: 4.5          Shampoo: 4

Scent: 
Conditioner: 3            Shampoo: 4

Price: 
Conditioner: 5           Shampoo: 5 

Lives up to it's promise?: 
Conditioner: 5           Shampoo: 4

OOTD: Hanging with Friends and Pasta Party!!!

I decided to do a quick little OOTD (Outfit of the Day) for you guys. I was going to take a ton of cute little pictures of me actually in my clothes before I left, but I was already late so I didn't have enough time. Anyways, the occasion for this outfit was a friend's house and then afterwards, a pasta party for my volleyball team. It was super casual, but I added larger earrings and curled my hair to dress it up a bit.

The racer-back tank top is from Forever21. It was a sheer cotton material with a pale peachy/beige geometric design. I paired it with a strapless white cami from Arie, to make it more appropriate because I was with my coaches, but on anyother occasion I probably would've just worn a bandeau. I wore my favorite pair of jean shorts from Delias. I forget the wash, but I know that the cut was called Taylor. They're frayed around the hemline and distressed near the pockets. I can't get a good picture of the earrings I was wearing, but they wear just simple pale pink hibiscus flowers with a gold border and a crystal rhinestone in the center. They also came from Forever21. 

I hope you all have a wonderful night, and don't forget to follow!

~Grace

I'm Back!!!!!

I haven't been posting on this beautiful blog in months </3 I decided I should get back into the swing of things! I have a lot of cool posts coming up, including some music and book reviews! I also got an iphone, so now I can post pictures more often and all that jazz. I hope you all have a lovely day!

Best of 2011! Beauty Products

This is the second post in my series, Best of 2011! I will have two more after this one, fashion and random. When I say beauty, I'm referring to skincare, haircare, and fragrances.

Beauty

The best shampoo is hard to pick because I never stayed on one for too long and don't believe shampoo is that important to the overall health or your hair, but I have been using Aussi Moist shampoo lately and it smells ah-mazing! It smells of vanilla, coconut, and has a fruity undertone. It doesn't leave your hair greasy or dry, but very soft and just healthy looking.
My favorite conditioner would be, without a doubt, Aussie Three Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner. This stuff has been my holy grail! It smells just like the shampoo, but better and it makes your hair silky and shiny and just plain beautiful. If you could only use one hair product for the rest of your life, I'd use this.
The best hair serum would be the Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide. I use this whenever I am going to blow dry my hair. It makes hair so shiny and smooth. It doesn't make it necessarily soft, but gives the illusion of softness. After I am done blow drying my hair, I take half a pump and rub it on my hair to get rid of any leftover frizzies.
My favorite spray in hair product would be a tie between the Tresseme Heat Protectant or the John Frieda Go Lightening, lightening hair spray. The heat protectant is an essential of mine! It smells like heaven, sprays evenly, and it's cheap! The lightening spray has made my light brown hair have just the right amount of highlights in it without making them look orange. I plan on doing a review on the lightening spray soon.
The best face wash would have to be the Neutrogena Grapefruit Scrub. This has really helped clear up my acne, as well as exfoliate my skin. It's very refreshing and it's not super abbrasive, so I can use it twice a day wihtout a problem!
My favorite moisturizer/body lotion is the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin. I use this not only on my face, but all over my body. It is soooo moisturizing and it doesn't cause my sensitive skin to breakout. You only need a tiny amount for your face, or else it will look shiny and I only use it at night so it has time to soak in. The tub I am using is only half empty and I've been using it for almost a year now.
The best perfume I have been using is the Wish Pink Perfume. I don't think they sell it anymore, which is why I don't use it anymore unless it is for super special occasions. It smells strongly of vanilla and kind of florally. It lasts all day long and I am in love with it.
My favorite body mist/splash is going to be Pretty & Pure by Pink. It's super girly and sweet smelling! I have the mini version because I am not a very big fan of body mists (they don't last very long). I do reccomend the mini one's for lockers are to carry arounf in your purse.

I hope you enjoyed! If you do a similiar post please leave a comment below! Link to past post in the Best of 2011 series http://laceleatherandpearls.blogspot.com/2012/01/best-of-2011.html Don't forget to follow!
~Grace <3

New Look!

So yesterday I was getting really fed up with the look of this blog because it was a template and anyone could have it! I wanted it to look a little bit more original so I changed the background to these really pretty flowers, but I still wanted to stick to the pink and blue theme. I kept the color of the fonts about the same, but I changed the titles into this really pretty cursive.
I like this look much better because it's more original, but tell me your opinion! Should I keep it, or go back to the old one, or just change it again! Thank you so much!
~Grace <3

2012 Fashion Trends... The Sporty Chick

One of the trends that have been a big hit recently is fashionable sportswear. The use of metallic sweatshirts and mesh overlay will still be going strong this new year. This trend is the one that allows you to stay in the comfort of sweatshirts and sweatpants, while still looking like you came straight out of New York Fashion Week.
Alexander Wang, who has been known to use this trend constantly, expressed his runway show with a navy blue mesh jackets and bright colors. Rag and Bones used over-sized zip up hoodies and and sporty bikini tops to stay on top of this trend. I think any one can wear this because you can be on the edgier side by wearing dark mesh and messy tousled hair or you can be on the preppier side by mixing classic colors with orange peep-toe heels.

I personal own a collection of beaded, gray sweatshirts and comfy black leggings that make everything look super chic. Pair a bright Cami under a cropped mesh tank or carry thick and bulky messenger bags to school or work. No matter how you wear it, you still now your on top of the fashion game.
Do you like this trend? Leave your comments below and don't forget to follow!
~Grace <3

Best of 2011!

I'm actually going to do four different 'best' categories. The first will be makeup, the second will be beauty, the third will be fashion, and the last will be random. Sorry, it took me awhile to post this!

Makeup:

My favorite foundation/concealer has been the Neutrogena Skin-Clearing Makeup in warm beige. I don't need a full coverage foundation, so I actually use this as a concealer for my blemishes and any acne scars. It looks really natural, but you need about two layer to really cover it up.
The best mascara would be any of the volume express mascaras from Maybelline. I have tried them all except for the turbo and the falsies flared. They all really lengthen and thicken the lashes without clumping them together and the black, is very black! The formula isn't too dry or wet, but I would say it was on the wetter side. Overall, any of them are foolproof!
My favorite eyeshadow/eyeshadow palette would have to be the Coastal Scents 88 Original palette. There is such a wide variety of colors that range from neutrals to hot pinks and icy blues. They are all very pigmented and have a soft, buttery consistency. It's also very cheap I believe, but I'm not positive on the number (it was a gift).
The best face powder (this includes foundations, bronzers, highlighters, or blushes) would definitely be the NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder. I adore this! I used throughout the summer and I still use it in the winter, but very sparingly. It has zero shimmer so it looks very natural and the shade will work on a lot of different skin tones. It has been one of my makeup staples this entire year.
My favorite eyeliner would no doubt be the Jordana Fabuliner in Black. You can find it at Kmart for around $3 and it should really be worth a whole lot more. It is a felt tip marker that is very easy to use. It creates a smooth line that dries quickly so you don't have to worry about it transferring onto your lid. It's also very black and you don't have to retrace the line to get that dramatic look.
The best lip product is surprisingly the Maybelline Baby Lips. More specifically the reddish toned one, Cherry Me. They leave a beautiful wash of color as well as being super moisturizing. It's everything you will ever need in a lip product. It takes the place of chapstick/lipstick/and gloss. I have a review if you want a more in depth description.

I actually don't have time to finish all four categories, so I am going to turn this into a really small miniseries. I also want to sat that I have not forgot about my 2012 Trends series or my winged eyeliner tutorial. I just have been really busy, but don't worry I will be getting around to doing both of them!

2012 Fashion Trends... Already? Post 1: Bringing Back the Princess

I know the new year has just started (it hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet!) but we all want to walk into an even more fashionable year than the past. I want to get a head start this year becuase it seems that no matter how hard I try to be on top of all the trends, I'm always a bit late. I thought, why not due a mini series! I'll be doing a post on each of the upcoming trends, so stay tuned!

From what I have seen a big trend that is coming in is that very girly/princessy feel. So say goodbye to chains and worn combat boots and hello to ball gown skirts and lacy tops. This lookwas displayed throughout Jason Wu's line as well as Oscar de la Renta.

Jason Wu's line was more on the vivacious side while Oscar de la Renta's had the classy/sultry look. While they both had the same idea, the final product turned out completely different. This is one of the examples on how everyone can still wear this while still staying true to themselves. A person with a quirkier style can wear bright skirts and someone with an edgier style can wear a darker skirt with an old band tee.

So what do you think of this trend? Also, please give me feedback on this series as well. Don't forget to comment and follow!

~Grace <3

Saturday's Stylish Shoes

First, I want to say Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you all have a great night out with friends! I might be doing an OOTD later, but I'm not sure... anyways this is probably my favorite pair of shoes in the world so be prepared!
They're by Jeffrey Campbell and you can find them at Nordstrom for $159. They are called the Bolen-Fab Boot. They have a three inch platform and a six inch heel. I love how high fashion they look and while I can't afford them I think they would look fabulous with a pair of khaki shorts and a beautiful white blouse. I'd finish of the look with big, retro sunglasses, a red lip, and an over sized sunhat. They do have a woven texture and the brown paneling is on both sides of the shoe.

Do you like these shoes? Would you buy them if you could? Leave a comment below with your answer and don't forget to follow!
~Grace <3

Tell Me Your Style 2011 TAG!

1.) What was your favorite trend of 2011?
Probably the feather trend! I thought it was so unique and really different. There were so many different levels you could take it, so everyone could rock it. I still love feather printed shirts and I had a hair extension later in summer that I adored. I don't think we will be seeing this trend again any time soon (Let's admit it, we're all tired of it!) but I really loved it at the time.

2.)What was your biggest fashion/beauty disaster of the year?
I don't really have regrets, but probably not painting my nails as often. They are almost always chipped! I don't have the time to really sit down and paint them. They look absolutley disgusting and I wish I would focus on them more!

3.) Has your style/beauty sense changed throughout the year?
Yes! I used to wear dark skinny jeans and uggs all the time. I had more of a put together look, but in the past few months I've been wearing a more skater/Californian look. I wear lightly colored ripped jeans and high top sneakers and like my hair to have a lot of texture it to it. I also don't wear as much makeup, which is crazy for me, but I like how it looks more.

4.) Did you purchase any of the items that were hyped up in 2011 on Youtube or Blogger?
Yes, I bought the Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing+Makeup Remover. It wasn't hyped up, but I did buy it because somebody was raving about it on youtube. I LOVE it! It smells amazing and you don't need a lot at all, plus it doesn't have any harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, or dyes.

5.) Where did you shop the most for your clothing in 2011?
I haven't done a ton of shopping this year, but when I did it was usually spread equally among stores. I would have to say Forever21 just by a hair though. I really love their clothes and they are really cheap! The quality kind of stinks though...

6.)Who was your favorite fashion icon of 2011?
Vanessa Hudgens! I have looked towards her for style inspiration since 2009. I really love her boho style that still looks a little rough. I adore her hair and how she sticks to trends without straying from her roots.

7.) If you had to choose one item that you wish you had not boughten in 2011 what would it be?
Probably this sweater from Forever21. It had a really cute graphic of a kitten, butit was so large and shapeless. The sleeves were also a bit to tight and short while the actual body was really loose.

I tag everyone reading this! If you do do this post, please leave a link in the comments below!
~Grace<3

Baby Lips Review

Pros-

It is super moisturizing and glides on smoothley.

They give a nice tint of color that you can really build up.

 I have tried the red, pink, nude, and plum, and I can say they are all beautiful! My personal favorite is Cherry Me, but I also like the nude.

The packaging is super cute and I love the font!

The cherry smells ah-maz-ing! The peppermint also smells good, but those are the only ones I have smelled.

All have an SPF of 20!
 Only $4.00 give or take depending on the store.

Swatch of Cherry Me.
One swipe on left and two on right

Cons-

They are almost too slick so it slides around on your lips.

While they give you a lot of product, it goes by really quickly.

They don't have a taste (besides a plasticy one!) This is what gets on my nerves the most! They made it smell good, but not taste good! Yuck... 

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa! I hope you've had a great day with your family and loved ones!
Be prepared for tons of posts coming up! You know why? Because I finally have a working computer and the best part is... it has a camera! Yay!
Love you all!
~Grace<3

Saturday's Stylish Shoes

First I want to apologize if the format of this post is weird, but I'm blogging off of my ipod and it's a little difficult.

Anyways, aren't these shoes beautiful? They're from Forever21 and are only $30!!!! Amazing, right? You can purchase them at www.forever21.com. I love the rusty brown color that makes them look just a tad bit rough, but the faux fur brings back the chicness of it. They would look adorable if paired with dark skinny jeans a flowy pale pink tank top and a blazer. Sophisticated or what? Sounds like an outfit from gossip girl or The Cliques books to me. Of course you can make them more edgy by wearing them with light washed jeans and a military green short sleeved shirt with a gold chain necklace. Perefect for school or a weekend lunch.

So what do you think? Would you buy these? Please leave a comment bellow and don't forget to follow!

Much love,
Grace<3

Trend Alert?

I've been noticing that were I live a lot of girls have been wearing boot slippers out as shoes. I do not know if this is just a local trend or if it is appearing in other areas of the world.

 

Pros: They are super duper comfortable! Well at least this is what I have heard from multiple sources. 

They are much cheaper than regular boots averaging $20. 

They keep your feet warm due to the soft fabrics. 

You can find them almost anywhere. Payless, Areopastale, and American Eagle.

They're cute! Well this is just my opinion. While they may not be 'fashion forward' I think they look adorable and are something totally outside of the box.

Cons: Are not very durable. From some I have seen some that do not even have soles on the bottom.

Some may think they look goofy or plain stupid.

Do not have enough variety to always be unique.

All shoes sold at http://www.payless.com/

November Favorites

November was not much of a big beauty month for me. I stuck to my basics and actually toned down my makeup for a more natural look. I know what a shocker! Hahaha! But because of this reason I don't have many interesting favorites.

Favorite #1: Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me!    

 

This product is surprisingly mousturizing and it came at a great price. Around $4-$5! The color of this particular shade is beautiful. It wasn't a bright red like I was expecting, but a beautiful cherry pink that gave the most nautural 'flush' to my lips. I'm planning to do a review on this product so I don't want to go into depth, but overall I reccomened it.

Favorite #2: Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara 

This is my current everday mascara and I adore it! It gives me the perfect all natural eyelash look. It's great for defintion on the first coat. It's not the best if you have short stubby eyelash's becuase it not a very lengthening mascara. By the second coat though you can really build up some volume.

Favorite #3: Neutrogena Skinclearing Makeup  

I bought this foundation over the summer when I was having serious breakout issues. I had to cover my pimples up, but I wanted a foundation that would help them heal, not clog my pores more. This contains 0.5% salacylic acid, which is found in most acne products. The coverage isn't great, but after about two layers it's pretty good.

Favorite #4: Perfectly Straight Hair

In October I was really into putting my hair into a side braid before I went to bed then in the morining take it out and have beautiful loose waves and keep my hair to one side. This month though I found my love for the flat iron again (that's probably not so great for my hair!) I've finnally perfected it so my hair stays straight for two days in a row. The key is to take small sections and go slow and steady. This also reduces heat damage becaus you don't have to constantly go over the same piece over and over and over again.

So what are your November favorite? Leave a comment below or a link to your blog post and don't forgot to follow!

~Grace <3

Future Posts

Skin Care Routine
November Favorites
Winter Nailpolish(s)
Gift Guide
5 Ways to Rock Winged Liner
Maybelline Baby Lips Review
Have any suggestions? Leave them in the comments below!!

Have a great day! <3

Saturday's Stylish Shoes

I know, it's not Saturday yet, but I will not have access to a computer tomorrow and I couldn't miss it!
A lot of girls my age have been wearing high top sneakers that are really big and kind of clunky I guess. I immediatly fell in love with them because I always thought that girls sneakeers never realyy did justice. They always seem to give of the vibe of a sneaker-that's-not-really-a-sneaker-but-wants-to-be. Some girls have even gone to wearing men's sneakers so that they wouldn't have the same pair as another person. I like this a llittle more becuase it's so unique and different.
The pair I ordered wednesday are from zumiez.com. The brand is Osiris and they weren't my top choice, but they were a little more wearable than my others.

What do you think of big chunky sneakers? Are they a hit or miss? I think they hit the bullseye, but that's just one opinion out of a billion.

Summer Prints and Colors in Winter?

I have been noticing that the winter clothing this year is unusual. While normally, designers stick with blacks, leathers, sweaters so thick no one REALLY needs to wear them unless they live in Antarctica, and the standard high heeled boots, they have completely switched this season. I have been seeing 'winter' florals and pastels as well as flats and soft barely there makeup.

The 'winter' floral uses smaller flowers and they are often in darker colors. If the flowers are not small they are overly large and scattered over the clothing piece. This is probably my least favorite of the new trends because I always see flowers in spring and summer. They just don't belong in winter clothing, but I think they look good when paired with chunky leather boots and a matching jacket.





I've also seen crop tops still circulating the market. I LOVE crop tops. I think they are so cute and simple to throw on over top of a Cami and walk out the door looking put together. I personally am so happy this trend is still in style. They are often knitted and use Nordic prints. Some on the other hand are tribal prints in bright neon colors. I think these can also look amazing if you wear it right and not with a ton of other bright colors. 

Another clothing trend that I have seen becoming really in is brightly colored jeans. I own a pair myself and while i don't wear them that often I do get a lot of compliments. The best variety of colors are being sold at Delias, but I have seen red ones being sold in American Eagle.

I am not sure how I feel about this trend yet, I kind of miss being able to go a little crazy with my makeup and not having to worry about matching prints and colors. In my opinion if worn right this trend can be very winter appropriate, but I think other wise it can be a little to springy.

~Grace <3

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving! I love the outfit I am going to be wearing over to dinner. I wish I could insert a picture, but then again I do not have a camera on the computer I am using. Sigh... it bothers me too! I am going to wear a vintage orange high wasted skirt with straps. It sounds weirder than it looks! With a Long sleeve cream shirt underneath. The shirt has a tribal print in a thinner material. I wish I could curl my hair, but I forgot my curling iron!

So what are you wearing for Thanksgiving? And if you don't celebrate, what is your favorite dressy/ casual fall outfit?
With much love,
Grace <3

Another Apology

I apologize yet again for not blogging on a regular basis or should I say not at all. It's very difficult for me because I do not have a computer of my own and my families computer breaks down often. It is huge pain just to try to get it started. Right now I'm visiting family so I thankfully have been able to use their computer for today and possibly tomorrow or Friday. I will try to start up again and I do apologize. Maybe I will finally get my own computer by Christmas. Cross the Fingers