Russian Red

So I didn't want to title this post the cliche of "lady in red" but then I realized I'm not clever enough to think of anything else...so I named this post after my favorite Mac lipstick, Russian Red.  Between Ruby Woo & Russian Red, I have to say (though I own both) Russian Red compliments my skin tone more.  It's also a little more subtle & matte than Ruby Woo. Maybe I will do a post on the differences between the two?

I think a lot of girls are timid by red lips (mainly because it's such a huge shock when you look in the mirror), but like anything new, it just takes some getting used to.  And just to reiterate my #1 rule when applying red lips for the first time - apply the lipstick before your eye makeup & blush - work around your lips so you don't overdo the rest. And more importantly, have fun! 

This is one of my favorite dresses (on sale at a BR outlet on top of that!)  I love structured dresses & I tend to gravitate toward button-down dresses.  The slight A-line is the perfect length (for my short legs) while also adding volume & femininity.  The picture of my legs below honestly motivates me to continue to run.  Naturally, I have very shapeless legs, so it took over 200 miles (says my Nike+) to eventually get them this way. Gotta keep doing it.

banana republic dress, LAMB heels, hermes bracelet, russian red lipstick

special thanks to DRU!!! from WWT for the tip: if lighting is bad, just make black & white...problem solved!

questions? ask here! | twitter tracker

Hot Lips {& Shabby Apple Winner!}

So while at SXSW, my good friend & coworker, Sarah, asked me how I apply my red lipstick.  And I was like, "Durr, there are like 100 tutorials out there...why are you asking wittle ol me?" but then I realized that she's not scouring the interwebz & magazines like I am to figure out how to apply red lipstick; so I thought it would be great to post my personal steps to achieve long-lasting red lips.

Of course, just like with anything, everyone has their own go-to methods, but this seems to work for me - having a base, blotting & reapplying ensures that my lips are still intact while I eat...though I wouldn't recommend eating a burger or something where it could potentially get on the sides of your face.  NO it's never happened to me (yes it has).

Also!  I would like to say that the movies are LIARS & if you DO start making out with your bf while wearing red lips...unless it's a lipstain that does NOT move (even as you scrub your lips with every makeup remover possible), both you AND him will end up looking like...well...this.

How To: Long-Lasting Red Lips from hoisinivy on Vimeo.

What you need:
+ Foundation / Concealer (I used L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle in Buff Beige)
+ Loose powder (I used Physicians Formula Mineral Loose Powder in Translucent Medium)
+ Nude lipliner (I used Nars Lip Pencil in Tortola)
+ Red lipstick (I used Sephora Lipstick in Rouge R04)

Also, the winner of my Shabby Apple giveaway has been chosen!  W00t.  I've collected everyone's names, added those who were already followers (hey, I want to rewards those who have always been followers in addition to those who just started)...and the winner is...

....
Miss Kat from Dallas, TX!  So Kat, please email me {stephthuynh [at] gmail [dot] com} so I can collect your information (like blood type, social security number, and first born) & send along your fabulous Shabby Apple dress!

Thanks to everyone who entered - even those who didn't, I added you.  NO CHOICE.

questions? ask here / twitter tracker

Island in the Shade

Photos taken on literally a road island in front of LAX. Stop judging me passing cars! This is for my blog! Btw, I'm off to C-bus Ohio for the next few days to visit my family, stay tuned!

banana republic denim jacket, martin + osa top, bp leggings, jessica simpson boots
LAX behind me

I'll miss this view while I'm in Ohio

view from a nearby neighborhood (p.s. i take this road everyday to go to work)

OUTTAKES!

something in my eye! it was super windy!

my best impression of a "karaoke model" can't you just hear "i can't liiiive...if living is without youuuu" in the background?

EXTREME CLOSE-UP!

Questions for moi? Ask here!

Pretty in Pink

As I mentioned, I'm really into lip colors now...especially since I figured out the whole "balancing your face"-thing.

Since CVS was having a buy-one-get-one-free on Revlon lipsticks, I was able to snag #457: Wild Orchid during my last trip. It's a blend of bright fuschia and lavender, definitely fun for the summer!

[steph note: the above picture has a really high contrast, so it's not a true representation of the lip color]

And of course, OUTTAKES!
my "drunken-trying to be sexy FAIL-slightly high-unexcusable crazy bangs" look.
yes that is my laundry basket behind me, don't you judge me!

zooming FAIL.

Have a great weekend!!!

Friday I'm in Love

So glad it's Friday!! I know you are too.

No new look today, but I did go out for a very good friend's birthday last night, and have pictures I just had to share. Mainly because I have the funniest expressions:

Who? What? Where? Why? Makes no sense.

And just in case you wanted to know how the make-up is done, it's super simple:

- Use a dark brown shadow over the crease of your upper eyelids
- Liquid liner with winged tips
- Curl lashes & mascara both upper & lower lashes
- Apply false eyelashes
- Line lower waterline with white pencil
- Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks (using MAC Coppertone)
- Apply lipstick, as seen in the previous post
Have a great weekend!!!

My Lips' Like Sugar

I'm now obsessed with lip color, love rockin' the reds and now that fall is (not) coming around the corner, I hear plum and berries are back!

Here's a quick tutorial on long-lasting lip color, without having to buy...long-lasting lip color:

Prep by gently exfoliating your lips (I just gently run my toothbrush over my lips as I brush my teeth) and apply chapstick or lipbalm while you're prepping your make-up. I then slightly blot the chapstick before applying lipstick so that the doesn't slide off.

Step 1: Apply concealer to your lips - it allows the color to stay more "true" from the tube and it also adheres a little better to your lips
Step 2: Line your lips with a nude liner. I'm using Victoria's Secret in Nude Plum, but I'd also recommend Spice by MAC.
Step 3: Use a lipbrush to apply the first coat of lipstick. I'm using Sephora's lipbrush and Black Cherry by Revlon...which by the way, is Buy One Get One Free at CVS right now!
Step 4: Blot with tissue
Step 5: Reapply, directly from the tube, and touch up your lipliner, if necessary.
Final look:
Steph Note: If you're not used to wearing any lip color, I'd recommend doing your lips before you apply any eye make-up, simply to avoid looking like you're wearing too much make-up. Also apply blush after lips, but before your eyes.

GOOD LUCK!

P.S. Sorry I keep changing the pictures, I didn't like how the originals turned out! Hey, it keeps you comin' back. Lol jk.

Color Me Yours

Alright, I *hope* I've got this down. Utilizing Smugmug is great in the sense that my pictures are clear and I can make 'em huge, but whatta pain if the settings aren't right.

For our friend's bachelorette party, my friend & I took a route less-traveled and instead of strippers, whipped cream, being "woo-girls," and losing our panties to a douche with a curly mop for hair wearing ripped jeans and flip flops, we decided to spend quality time at the beach with mimosas, homemade brunch, Color Me Mine, and Gyu Kaku.

Huntington Beach:

we kept it classy with plastic penis straws while drinking our mimosas

We then went to Color Me Mine where we each painted 1/3 of a plate so we had matching commemorative plates. Be forewarned - if you plan on going CMM, it can definitely suck the time out of you...we spent over FOUR hours there.

shannon (the bride-to-be), nikki
in case you were wondering: ryan's cut-up shirt, bikini by penguin, hot topic belt, hollister jeans

Gyu Kaku is a Japanese restaurant with grills in the middle of each table where you bbq your own meat, similar to Korean bbq. DELISH. Not to mention $1 beers.
And of course, it wouldn't be a bachelorette party without...
Inappropriate cupcakes are the best. Strawberry cheesecake cupcakes, by yours truly.

(Hopefully I didn't just get you fired)

Red, White, & Boho

How were your 4th of July's? Mine was full of beautiful (but frigid) beaches, dirty dogs (aka: bacon-wrapped hot-dogs), and my very close friends, but ended with a trip to the ER.

I don't have very many maxi dresses, just because I'm a little shorter and they tend to drag on the floor, but I loved the different patterns of this maxi dress AND the "scrunchiness" - yeah that's a word - of the top allows me to go bra-less! FREEDOM!
While that's a great dress to wear during the summer, it's not quite appropriate for the beach (kicking up sand, getting caught while walking, etc.) so I wore this on Friday, and stuck to shorts & a tank for the festivities at the beach. Some photos of the fun:
4th of July is definitely a kick-off to summer...

So what are your favorite summer activities?
(i need ideas!!)

Oh yeah, to continue with the ER story, everything is OK - we went to the ER because Rye Bread's sister just returned from the Galapagos Islands, where she got an oral infection from her scuba gear. It unexpectedly flared up, so we skipped the fireworks to take care of her. We did get to see the fireworks on the way home though. =)

One Weekend: Two Looks

After flying 4 1/2 hours from Orlando to LA, I had to quickly get ready for Rye Bread's cousin's graduation party. Knowing it was in the evening, I didn't want to wear something where I needed a coat, but I also knew it would be slightly warm, so I went with a compromise: a red, below-the-knee skirt and a simple white tee.

shirt, skirt, wedges, and belt: martin + osa
this entire outfit is from martin + osa, talk about a one-stop shop!

You all were so sweet, complimenting me on the red lips...you KNOW I had to rock it again! In case you noticed, I dyed my hair a "soft black," - I usually dye it dark brown (my hair is naturally pretty light brown), I'm still trying to get used to it...I sort of feel like an evil Disney villain. (That would be Ursula from The Little Mermaid)

That was Saturday.

This is Sunday - a sunny, lazy day:

old navy maxi dress

Right? Completely different look! It's amazing how red lipstick totally vamps up an entire look.

For this lip color, I used Mac's lip stain in Not So Shy! (Their exclamation point, not mine). The trick with lip stains for the summer is to apply it with your finger, not directly from the applicator. I concentrated it on the centers of my lips. The goal is to make it look like you were sucking on a popsicle, not that you applied lipstick. Gloss over with any clear or lightly tinted lip gloss and you're all set!

I also applied Nars blush in Taj Mahal (which is bright orange) for a different blush color. Blend it out with a light bronzer for a strong cheek color that's outside of the norm bronze or pink.

ceramic plumeria flower from hilo hattie

Loose curls, pinned slightly back with a Hawaiian flower completes the look. Maxi dresses, flip flops, loose curls with light make-up and stained lips will probably be my summertime staple outfit.

What are your summer staples?