What's up, Ombré!

Unless you are living on another planet, Ombré is everywhere.  From hair, eyes and even nails....there is no escaping!  So, it was only a matter of time before this trend made it the the lips.  What is Ombré (you might ask)?  Ombré is French for an effect with a gradual colour transition, usually from light to dark.  For example, with hair, the ends are deliberately lighter than the roots....in a good way.  lol  It is completely different from the look of a dye-job "regrowth" which is just dreadful!  But unlike fashion and hair, when you apply this concept to makeup, it's all about color choices and shading which usually creates a 3-D effect making lips look fuller.

Here's what you'll need:

Find two contrasting colors that are in the same family.  To achieve this effect, one will obviously need to be lighter than the other.

Tip:  It is better to use fairly opaque lip colours for this effect because you want to get enough coverage both with the first dark layer, and then again with the light layer on top.

Once you have picked your color choices, fill your entire lip with the darker shade.  Matte finishes generally work best, so try a matte lipstick or lip liner.  When using matte lipsticks, it is very important that your lips are in the best condition possible and not chapped.  Make sure to condition them, beforehand!

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

Next, you will add the lighter shade in the center of your lips for a pop of color.  You can apply straight from the tube, with a lip brush or even with your fingers.  Whichever works best for you!  The lighter shade can be a matte finish, as well.  But you can absolutely use a shimmer or slightly metallic finish.  I find that the latter adds even more dimension, making lips look fuller and bigger.  Once you have applied the lighter shade, blend it into the darker shade.  Be careful to leave the edges darker than the middle.  And it's probably a good idea not to press your lips together too much or else you may lose the Ombré effect that you are trying to achieve.

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

Adding a clear lip gloss for more of a modern edge, is completely optional and a matter of choice.  Remember that matte lipsticks can make your lips feel a little dry.

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

What do you think...Are you a fan??

XOXO

~Tiaja

To Whiten or Not To Whiten?

Whatever happened to the teeth whitening craze???  Seriously!!  Six or Seven years ago you could not escape the pressure of keeping your pearly whites BRIGHT!  Ads splashed across your television screens with all of the latest products and techniques that would "guarantee" you a whiter and brighter smile.  And nowadays, not so much!  There are still a few ads out there but they are few and far between. 

I have to say that I am kinda sadden that this craze has died down.  To me, there is nothing like a nice smile.  And teeth are definitely apart of that equation!  I mean let's be real....with the help of braces and whiteners,  there is really no excuse for not having a nice "grill" especially if you can fit it into your budget.  Am I right or am I right?

Zoom! Whitening Procedure

What brings me to this subject, you might ask?  A recent visit to my dentist!  I've been going to my dentist for about four years now and recently, I've noticed that he has really been pushing their teeth whitening procedure down my throat!!  Almost to the point where I had to question whether or not my teeth were white enough.  lol  Had me looking in the mirror every five secs just to make sure!  Now granted, it has been a few years since my last Zoom! whitening procedure and I could probably use a touch-up but my teeth are still a nice shade of white, in my opinion.

So, during my last visit, without fail, the dentist compliments me on my teeth and tells me that "a whiter smile will make it that much better"!  At this point, i'm really beginning to consider his "recommendation".  For a mere $300, my teeth can be white again and up to my dentist's standards.  And just when I was about to hand over my credit card, in walks the dental hygenist.  After overhearing the conversation (and making sure the coast was clear), she asks me do I have a Costco card?  I replied, "Yes"!  She then tells me to go to there and pick up some Crest Whitestrips.  Not only are they cheaper but with patience, they provide the same results!  Now why hadn't I thought of this?? lol  Not only did she stick her neck out for me but she also saved me money in the process.    So, I thanked her and went on my merry little way!

Crest Whitestrips Procedure

As I sat in my car, again I asked myself....why didn't I think of this?  It's not like I wasn't familiar with Crest Whitestrips.  During my days as a cheerleader, I used them religiously thanks to my teammate, Shonte, who had/ has THE whitest teeth that I have ever seen.  lol  I asked her one day how did she get her teeth so white and she put me on to the strips.  As I mentioned before, you will not get immediate results like you would by using a professional whitening treatment, but after about a week of using the Crest Whitestrips I definitely noticed a difference.  Simply apply the strips for 30 mins a day until you see your desired results and voilà!  Now it would not be fair if I did not mention that you may experience some tooth whitening sensitivity but it's just a small price to pay for pearly whites.  And another good thing is that you don't need a Costco membership to purchase them.  You can buy Crest Whitestrips at any major retailer and they run anywhere from $39 - $60 depending on which kit you choose to purchase.  And in my case, that's a savings for up to $240!! 

So in answer to my own question....why wouldn't you whiten??


XOXO

~Tiaja