ELF Studio Bronzers: Impressive!

available for $3 each at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/ click Studio

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Hello everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful day. Just wanted to drop you a line about these two awesome products from ELF. I recently purchased a few different things off of the ELF website- but these are a couple that really stood out to me. First off- the packaging is really not typical of most ELF products- but keep in mind, these come from their somewhat new "Studio" line. They resemble Nars compacts and are rather large with a really nice mirror that's terrific to use when you're traveling.

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The compact on the left is the Warm Bronzer. On the website, you'll find this also comes in Cool and Golden Bronzer shades. This one that I have appears to be the most like a "typical" bronzer shade. The four separate tones mix together flawlessly with a swirl of your brush. It's a nice change from some of my darker bronzers, and I think this would be awesome for those who have fair skin and have struggled finding a bronzer that doesn't make them look "muddy". I felt like after I used this I looked fresh and glowing, but still natural! This is not an overly shimmery product and you absolutely don't need to worry about looking orange. Woohoo!

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The compact on the right is the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder. This has often been compared to a similar product from Nars, but since I don't have that product- I won't pretend to make comparisons here. (other than packaging, which as I mentioned before, is quite similar). I had seen numerous videos/pictures of this product and really wasn't too impressed at first. I didn't think the colors appeared to be too vibrant, and just really didn't think it looked like a must-have product. Well, now that I have it, I guess it's a must-KEEP product! This thing rocks! This bronzer is considerably deeper than the mosaic style Warm Bronzer mentioned above. It is wonderful for contouring cheeks, but beware- since it is darker you don't want to go overboard on this on the rest of your face or you'll look dirty. Trust me, I know haha ;D A great cheek contour nonetheless- and I like that it's not overly shimmery.

Now the peachy toned blush DOES have some shimmer- quite a bit more than the bronzer... but it still has COLOR! Woohoo! My concern was that I'd have a peach blush on my hands that wouldn't show up and would be basically useless. Even on my medium-toned skin- this gorgeous blush shows up, and the shimmer is not enough to keep me from wearing it. A truly wearable blush and bronzer in one- you could really cut costs by getting this and you'd be truly satisfied!

And once again- a look at the super cute and sleek packaging! Look for more reviews on other ELF products I've purchased coming up soon. ALSO-- I've launched a new hair series! It's called Weather Styles... basically a hairdo for any kind of weather condition! I've just posted a video on rainy day hair, so check it out!
Have a great day everyone!
♥
Emily

QOTW: Go-to Hair Products

Hey everyone!

Guess what? This is the way I'm going to start announcing my Question of the Week (QOTW) results! I felt like when I did the videos for results they weren't really getting nearly as many views as the other kinds of videos I do, and I thought since the question is on the blog, it would be appropriate to just blog about the results on a weekly basis, sharing my personal opinion and some additional info related to the question. Hopefully now that I've announced this we will start getting more votes on the question- can you believe we were once up to 1,000?!

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This week's question:

What is your go-to hair product?

Hairspray
46 (16%)

Mousse
34 (12%)

Gel
11 (4%)

Anti-Frizz cream
39 (14%)

Heat-Defense Products
29 (10%)

Leave-In Conditioner
75 (27%)

Glossing/Shine Serum
38 (13%)

Votes so far: 272 Poll closed

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Wow, I didn't know so many people were nuts about Leave-in conditioner! That's cool, though- it's a pretty important thing if you have dry hair issues or if you just want that healthier feel. For me, my go-to product is without a doubt hairspray. Granted, I use stuff like heat-defense products and shine serum, but if someone told me I could only use one thing it would be hairspray. It helps whatever you've done last longer, it can tame most fly-aways, it can create volume, it can be used as a styling aid with velcro rollers... and the list goes on!

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Here are some of my favorite hairsprays:

• TRESemme Freeze & Control Ultra Hold Hairspray... this is my current all purpose hairspray. I used to use a VO5 hairspray that was quick drying and worked well- but then that got discontinued so I needed something else that would really hold the style. This doesn't create an unsightly buildup on my dark hair and will really keep your hair in place if you want. (drugstore product)



• Generic Value Products Freezing Hairspray (compare to Matrix Vavoom Freezing Hairspray)... This product has nice hold without making the hair feel too stiff. It also has a scent that I really like. As you can see, it's a knock-off of a Matrix product, and it really is nice for creating volume- but if you mist it on your hair after styling- you get a nice, slightly more flexible hold. (sally beauty supply)



• Redken Quick Dry 18... I use the mini version of this. It really is nice for travel because of the way the cap locks in place (I described this product in my recent Shopping List Ideas video). It truly is quick drying and is just the perfect formula of hairspray you'd want to have on the go- like if your updo is starting to fall or your bangs are just out of control- this will tame everything down with a fine mist that dries fast. (Beauty First)



• Nick Chavez Volumizing Extra Hold Hairspray.... You will get insane volume with this. If you've ever seen Nick Chavez's demonstrations on QVC- you can flip your head over, spray this at the roots, and you will have massive volume. So this is one of the best volumizing hairsprays and it also manages to have great hold. You can also use it on your velcro rollers and it will create lots of volume when you brush your hair out. The Sally Beauty Supply So Gorgeous hairspray is pretty similar to this, but looking back, I think I like this one a little bit better just for the volume aspect. I ran out of this and will be repurchasing. (product available on QVC's website)

Thanks for checking out the blog today, and have a great day! Don't forget to answer the new question of the week!!

♥

Emily

Another Wedding Weekend!

Hey everyone! I must apologize once again for a weekend without new videos- I traveled back to the area where I went to college for a wedding. Congratulations Jessie & Shane! They're both friends of ours and Tyler was an usher in the wedding. We had a fantastic time, but once we got home we both just felt drained of energy. Even though it's summer- it's still a very busy time! If I'm traveling on the weekends it kind of prevents me from being able to do tutorials- because weekends are usually when I shoot them because that's when I have the time. There will eventually be more tutorials in the future, and I'll of course have other types of videos up this week- including my 20,000 subscriber celebration video! :D Plus reviews, favorites, etc.

Now to make this somewhat beauty-related-- Here's the look I did for the wedding. The "accent color" on my dress was a little pink belt, so I used that as the accent on my eye look as well. I used my Cover Girl eyeshadow quad in Drama Eyes (It's a product I mentioned in my Summer Drugstore Faves blog entry). I used the white shade all over my lid, then used the burgundy for a wash of warmth in my crease. I defined the outer V with the black shade, and gave a light dusting of the white shade under my brow for a highlight. Then comes the really fun part- I used my Glam Couture shadow in Palace (a sparkly magenta- I used it as part of my Intense Teal shadow tutorial- I show the shade right at the beginning). With a fluffy crease brush, I used a very light dusting of the shade near my brow bone, overlapping the other colors a bit. It gave a pretty wash of color and sort of a unique touch to the look.

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On my lips I used my Jordana Easyliner Lip Liner in Baby Berry and topped it off with my NYX Goddess of the Night lip gloss in French Kiss. For blush- I used the ELF Studio Blush/Bronzer compact- mainly the bronzer side as a cheek contour, and then Cover Girl Cheekers blush in Plumberry Glow to keep with the pink theme. Oh and as far as my hair goes, I sort of pulled out some side bangs, and then teased and bobbi pinned a little "pouf" right behind that. then I made sort of a messy bun in the back and secured it with a clip.

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Now for a few fun pics! Here's me and my pal Brittany at the reception. Isn't her hair adorable? And such cute earrings too. So stylish! :)

There's the newlyweds Jessie & Shane! This is at some point between the wedding & the reception when we stopped by a pub in Shane's hometown. That's Ty peeking his head into the picture haha :D This place actually served hot chashew nuts- like they were being heated by a lamp and they were the most amazing things ever!!

This is a random pic I took at the reception-- It's amazing what happens when you reach your arm out and yell "picture!!" on the dance floor! This one just cracks me up. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have a great week ahead! :D

♥

Emily

Attention Twitter Users!

photo courtesy bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Hey everyone! Just wanted to pass along something cool I've discovered on Twitter. If you're a "tweeter" as well, you might want to check this out-- if not, you might be prompted to set up your own account!

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One day when I was feeling especially obsessed with makeup I decided to do a search on Twitter for different makeup artists that I loved. I found Bobbi Brown! I was so excited because I have several of her books, and I just love her makeup philosophy. In a nutshell, Bobbi rules. It looks like several members of her troupe of Bobbi Brown makeup artists are managing her Twitter page, setting it up so you get periodic tips, and you're welcome to ask questions too! EXAMPLE: Yesterday at work I was contemplating the effectiveness of airbrush makeup for TV news. In a matter of MINUTES I had a response, and was absolutely tickled over the fact that one of them took the time to send me a quick note back.

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emilynoel83@AskBobbiBrown
what's your opinion on airbrush makeup for TV news? Is it necessary for HD
or is regular liquid just as good?
44 minutes ago from web in reply to AskBobbiBrown

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AskBobbiBrown@emilynoel83
Bobbi prefers using a stick foundation for a flawless finish ~Joy Dee
5 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to emilynoel83

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I realize that specific subject matter might not be all that interesting to all of you, but it's just kind of an example of how effective Twitter can be for brief interactions between you and those who you may think you'd never get the chance to communicate with. Visit Bobbi Brown's twitter at http://twitter.com/askbobbibrown ...you need to have your own account to ask questions and stuff. FYI: my Twitter is http://twitter.com/emilynoel83

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ONE MORE THING... on Bobbi Brown's official makeup website (not the Twitter page), you can learn more about her and her amazing talents. On the part of the site called About Bobbi: Her Story, you can check out some neat video clips, including Bobbi creating looks for a fashion show. Enjoy! And have a fantastic day!

♥

Emily

Courtesy bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Hope You Had A Happy 4th of July!

Hey everyone! How was your July 4th holiday? Mine was great- with the exception of it raining the entire day and fireworks getting cancelled. Tyler and I took the train to my sister a.k.a. Pup's house. It was a 3 hour trip, so it was nice to not have to worry about driving. Instead I fired up my ipod and read magazines while Tyler studied for the bar exam. As you can see from the pic above- even though it was 6:30 a.m. I was SO EXCITED to be on the train! I was just a little kid the last time I took a real train trip! For some reason Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches taste 10 times better when you get it from the train's snack car :D Yay for trains!

This is Pup & Jeff's gorgeous, but soggy backyard. We still had a great time cooking up some tasty dishes. We enjoyed Jeff's special burgers & fries, mom's macaroni & baked beans, an adorable cheese ball... and so much more! Pup loves to cook and does a good job documenting everything, so for more on all of that, check out Pup's blog.

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I should have taken many more pictures- don't you hate it when that happens? You have your camera there because you want to use it but you only remember to pick it up a few times. We all missed my brother Ryan, sister in law Shanna, and my little niece Ashley- but Ryan had to travel to China for a work trip the following day so it would've been tough for them to make the trip to Pup's.

As I said- I wish I would've taken many more pictures, but this is probably one of the sweetest ones anyone could take. This is Tyler right after he'd fallen asleep on the couch with one of Pup & Jeff's kitties laying on him. So cute! Looking at this picture just makes me feel warm, cozy, and relaxed... and that pretty much sums up my 4th of July. So glad to see my family again and just wish it could happen more often. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend like I did! :)

♥

Em

Emily's Hair Color!

Hello friends! When I was thinking about what I was going to do a blog about today, I didn't have to think long! After the questions I've been getting recently, it was obvious I needed to tell you guys about my hair color!

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First: a little history. I have never colored my hair with permanent hair color or highlights. I didn't want to damage my hair, and frankly, I like my natural color! But because I have very fine hair, my mom (former cosmetologist) suggested I use a semi-permanent color that matched my natural shade to give my hair some texture & body. It worked! And for the last 7 years or so I've been using a dark brown shade of Clairol Natural Instincts non-permanent hair color (lasts through 28 shampoos). Over the years I think the specific name of the shade has varied, but what I've been using lately is a shade called Nutmeg (dark brown) #28. It's been awhile since I've used this, so in my recent videos, you're probably seeing my natural color- but since it's such a close match, I really can't tell when it's faded, but whenever I have the fresh color on, I think my hair is just a tad bit darker. Other people can't ever tell after I've done it though. :)

This hair color really makes your hair feel healthy after you use it, and it's a really easy process. You just add the color to damp hair, wait, and rinse it out. It also comes with a Once a Week Color Treat conditioner that you use after you do the color, and during the weeks that follow. It's very nourishing and keeps your hair soft & shiny. The color formula has no ammonia, which helps protect your hair against dryness in the coloring process. I feel like this whole process of using a non-permanent hair color makes my fine hair more manageable and easier to style- plus it stays healthy! I'll probably be doing another application of this soon, so I'll let you know when I do a video so you can see if you can tell the difference. This product is available at any drugstore!

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Thanks for stopping by the blog everyone! Have a wonderful day!

Emily :D

Big Survey- Do it Yourself!

This was sent to me to do- thought you guys might enjoy it!

LONGGG SURVEY! Created by DAYDREAMER05 and taken 80405 times on Bzoink
time started:	5:20
name:	Emily
nickname(s):	Em, Chief, Poof... so many more
birthday:	December 27th
where were you born:	Burlington, Iowa
do you still live there:	Never did- it was the nearest hosptial
zodiac sign:	Capricorn
height:	5'0"
hair color:	Dark Brown
do you like it:	yes
what does it look like:	naturally straight, I often curl it
eye color:	Brown
do you like it:	yes
contacts or glasses:	contacts
shoe size:	8 or 8.5
grade:	hmm... been out of college for a few years
GPA:	i'll give myself a 4.0!
siblings:	Kelly & Ryan
piercings:	2 per ear & belly button
favorite
color:	Pink
scent:	cake or pie baking, cinnamon, sweet scents
show:	reality talent shows: American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, also Friday Night Lights
candy:	can't beat a Twix bar
gum:	Orbitz Sweet Mint
drink:	anything strawberry flavored
food:	nachos, tacos, a good pizza
pizza topping:	cheese, sausage, & mushroom
book:	I Like You by Amy Sedaris
fruit:	raspberries
vegetable:	sweet corn
time of day:	afternoon, or morning when I'm anchoring
month:	December
day of the week:	Friday/Saturday
season:	Summer
magazine:	Allure
font:	hmm... something cute
shampoo:	GVP Matrix Amplify
name:	favorite name? i'll get back to you
number:	3
phrase:	i love you and yay!!!
store:	Sephora or Walgreens
accessory:	my wedding ring
channel:	3... it's the one I work for :)
weekend activity:	shopping/hanging out with Tyler/movies/partying
house color:	brick
animal:	i like cats, bunnies, chipmunks... and more. preferably fluffy :)
board game:	Monopoly
story from childhood:	The Velveteen Rabbit
have you ever
been on a plane:	yes
been on a train:	yes
been on a bus:	yes
been in a taxi:	yes
been in a car accident:	as a very small child- not serious
burned something:	yes- severely burned tater tots a few months back
went out of the country:	no
broken the law:	not majorly, probably like speeding or something
lost something valuable:	probably
met a celebrity:	yes
cried in public:	yes
had a cavity:	yes
shopped at abercrombie and fitch:	yes
prank called anyone:	yes
faked sick:	no
fallen from a tree:	probably as a child
climbed a tree:	yes
slept outside:	yes
broken a bone:	no
choked:	no
passed out:	like fainted or fallen asleep? i haven't fainted before
been to disney world:	no
made a model volcano:	haha no
the last
phone call:	mom
thing bought:	postage
thing said:	laughter
time you cried:	don't remember exactly- probably during a recent movie
thing you ate:	a Boca burger
shoes you wore:	white wedges
future
occupation:	news anchor/host
place to live:	nice big house :)
kids:	a few
car:	not sure- cars are always changing. the auto industry is a mess right now
what are you doing tomorrow:	working, among other things
friends
best friend:	Tyler
loudest:	Mike
silliest:	Me sometimes
craziest:	Nate
calmest:	Tyler
nicest:	Beth
meanest:	they might not want to be my friend anymore haha
the one you have but don't want:	huh?
smartest:	Pup
most hyper:	that's a shared title
weirdest:	haha, also a shared title
pick one
pepsi-coke:	either if it's diet
sprite-7-up:	sprite
gold-silver:	depends on outfit, usually silver
vanilla-chocolate:	vanilla ice cream, chocolate candy
flowers-candy:	candy
book-magazine:	both
tv-rdio:	TV
half empty-half full:	Half full
crayons-markers:	markers
sun-moon:	they're both pretty awesome
hot-cold:	75 degrees
dog-cat:	cat
jeans-shorts:	at my ideal temperature (see above) either would work
waffles-pancakes:	waffles
florida-cali:	California
first thing that comes to mind when you hear...
yellow:	sun
lipstick:	red
school:	cheerleading
slippers:	pink & fuzzy
lawn mower:	loud noises!
iceland:	uhh
greenland:	green
harry potter:	glasses
rooster:	wake up
bill clinton:	hillary
whipped cream:	tasty!
mattress:	jumping
lollypop:	i want one
love:	tyler
panties:	pink
are you
annoying:	sometimes
loud:	sometimes
quiet:	sometimes
random:	often
perky:	yes
happy:	yes
sad:	infrequently
crazy:	yes
smart:	yes
calm:	occasionally
what time is it!:	5:40
You've been totally Bzoink*d! Take This Survey Search Surveys Create a Survey

Pretty Nail Polish Alert!

Hi Everyone! I hope you're all having a nice weekend. It's been SO hot where I live, and finally today things are cooling down just a bit. Last night I was doing my nails before going out- not yet sure what I wanted to wear. So I reached for my new China Glaze nail polish in Awakening- and I'm so glad I did- it's absolutely gorgeous! I'm not sure if this will make any sense: but when it goes on your nails it looks the very same as it does in the bottle- which tends to be different in every light. The color can look anywhere from mauve to magenta- while always giving a gorgeous, almost metallic golden undertone. So it complimented any number of outfits I'd pick out.

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I have 2 coats of polish on my nails in these pictures. Honestly, If I was in a hurry, one coat would've been fine. Then I topped it off with Sally Hansen's Mega Shine topcoat for added shine & strength. I'm able to find China Glaze polishes at my local Sally Beauty Supply store- but if you know of other places people can find them- please comment and let me & everyone else know :) They cost around 5 or 6 dollars- and sometimes there's a BOGO deal. It seems a little pricey to me for a nail polish- but it's a price I'm willing to pay from time to time for the following reasons:

1. Variety of shades... like the one featured in this blog, some of the China Glaze colors are so unique- you just wouldn't find them from another brand.
2. Sometimes it only takes one coat... with certain shades you can totally get by with one coat
3. It goes on so smooth! No streaky finish- it always ends up looking creamy & beautiful!
4. Long-lasting... in my experience, these polishes maintain a fresh appearance and it takes quite awhile for them to start chipping. Obviously if I'm having an especially active week I can expect some premature chipping, but overall I think China Glaze can outlast most other polishes.

Have a great week everyone! Thanks for stopping by the blog! :D

♥

Emily