A Note to Prettied Up Visitors

Hello, and thanks for visiting Prettied Up! This blog is no longer being updated.

My niece Aggie forcing me to do her makeup at the dinner table.

Prettied Up began in September 2010 and ran until October 2011. If you're new here, there's a ton of great beauty-related content to explore and inspire you. Check out the list of topics on the right-hand side of the page, or use the search bar for specific beauty-related queries.

Here's some fun posts to get you started:

How to curl your hair with a flat iron. Also, an easy trick for beachy waves.

My dramatic results after using Latisse for 10 weeks.

All about eyebrow threading.

My (former) signature makeup look. All these products are still awesome!

YouTube beauty guru Kandee Johnson reveals her most essential product.

How to bring out your glow with highlighter (or light-colored eyeshadow).

Festive hairstyles for football season (let's go Mountaineers!).

The importance of eyeshadow primer.

My experience with the minx manicure trend (and nail polish strips).

The perfect nail color for a party.

Thanks again for taking a look around! If you'd like to get in touch, don't hesitate to email me at amoscari (at) gmail (dot) com.

How to get beachy waves with a curling iron

It's so easy to get beachy waves like the ones pictured on me here. The trick is to curl your hair like normal, (if you need a refresher, see my quick video tutorial on curling) with one small change.

The only change - pay attention now - is to twist each section of hair one time around your finger before wrapping it around the curling iron. And that's the key to beachy waves!

So easy right? My wonderful hairstylist taught me this trick. I love trying new things! It's a nice change that's super simple to execute, especially for ladies like me who curl their hair often.

Okay, that's all for now.

Have you ever styled your hair this way? If not, will you try it? Please let me know if you do! I'd love to see the results!

My dramatic results after using Latisse for 10 weeks

The photos pretty much say it all. Over the past ten weeks of using the prescription eyelash growth treatment Latisse my lashes have grown in both volume and especially length. Several friends have noticed the difference.

As an interesting side note, it takes 16 weeks to get the full results from using Latisse because the solution works on growing eyelashes, according to my eye doctor. The typical lifespan of an eyelash is six weeks. So when starting to use Latisse, your eyelashes will grow back longer after the old ones naturally fall out. This is essentially why you need to keep using Latisse to maintain the results. If you stop using it, your eyelashes will naturally fall out and grow back normally.

I should report that I have not experienced any negative side effects from using Latisse. I have been pretty diligent about putting it on every night, but have forgotten to apply it several times.

So yeah, all in all I'm fully obsessed with Latisse. When I'm washing off my eye makeup there are just so many eyelashes to scrub now!

Do you use Latisse? It's like a miracle worker!

Nail of the day - Milani Jewel FX in Silver 533

 

If you're looking for a nail polish that's going to make an impact you must check out the Jewel FX line from Milani. I received this silver chunky glitter polish (try to say that ten times fast) as part of the gift bag given out at the Beautylish spring trends preview event. Truth be told, I wouldn't have normally picked out this polish because it's just so flashy. I like glitter polishes but I usually stick to the ones that contain micro glitter. Even though it's not my normal style, it's been fun testing out such a bold, funky polish.

You know how some glittery nail polishes are stingy with the sparkles? This one is not like that. The glitter is very concentrated and with just two coats your nail will be almost completely covered. It's quite beautiful on its own or paired with a color underneath.

Milani Jewel FX Silver over OPI's The Color to Watch

The only bad thing about this polish is trying to get it off! I have worn it twice now and found it pretty difficult to remove with normal nail polish remover both times. It takes a lot of work. Other than that, this polish is fabulous and would be perfect for a party.

What do you think of this unique nail polish? Would you wear it?

My new favorite skin care product

Oh my gosh, you guys! I have discovered an amazing product that I'm so excited to tell you about. As part of the gift bag given out at the Beautylish spring trend preview event, I received a box of "sheet" masks from a new Canadian skin care company called myfaceworks.

myfaceworks offers 13 different types of face masks formulated to address skin issues ranging from wrinkles to acne. I was given The Starter Kit, which costs $45 for six different sheet masks including:

• "i need to wake up" with vitamin-c for moisturizing and brightening 
• "i need to detox" with green tea, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties
• "i need to replenish" for hydration and wrinkle reduction
• "i need damage control" with Coenzyme Q10, for improving the skin's moisture absorption
• "i need to be firm" with collagen to reduce pore size and puffiness
• "i need to relax" with lavender for relaxation and increasing overall skin resilience. 

So far I've tried the lavender "i need to relax" and collagen "i need to be firm" masks. All I can say is that I'm totally hooked!

These masks are nothing like traditional clay or gel-based facial masks. The myfaceworks product is a moist, film-like sheet that is applied to the face and left on for 15 to 20 minutes.

In my experience, these masks are cooling, refreshing and stay moist throughout the treatment.

The lavender "i need to relax" mask helped me unwind and made my skin feel soft. I cannot say it made a drastic difference in the look of my skin, though.

The results of the collagen "i need to be firm" mask, however, were instant. After one treatment, the look of my fine lines and pores was noticeably reduced. My skin appeared more radiant. This sounds crazy, but it actually seemed like my fine lines had been filled in. I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised. I've never seen such a drastic difference after using a product just one time.

Needless to say, I purchased a full box of the "i need to be firm" masks for my mom for mother's day. I plan to buy one for myself after I finish my starter kit.

Also, I should mention that while these masks are wonderful, they make you look very odd when you're wearing them. Case in point: when I walked out into the living room wearing one, my boyfriend was actually startled! We got a good laugh at that.

Anyway, I'm so excited to try out the other masks in my starter kit! Have you tried the myfaceworks masks? Do you love them as much as I do?

My one month Latisse check-in

Hey there, lovelies! If you're a regular follower of this blog, you already know that I started using the eyelash growth treatment Latisse one month ago. (If you're new to Prettied Up, welcome!)

For the past four weeks, I have been diligently brushing one drop of Latisse along my upper lash lines every night before bed, as instructed. Check out my results so far:

Overall, I have noticed a slight increase in the length and thickness of my lashes. Though I only apply Latisse to the top row of lashes, I have seen a difference on the bottom row as well.

I am happy with the results so far, but I know the real changes are yet to come. Latisse is supposed to work gradually over a 16-week period, so I still have a while to go before achieving the full effects. Here's hoping by my birthday in July I'll have incredibly long, thick lashes. *fingers crossed*

Also, I should note that I have not experienced any adverse side affects from using Latisse.

Trend to try now: Bright colored eyeliner

Now that the weather is warming up, the makeup I've been wearing all winter long feels gloomy and boring. I've already ditched my dark nail polish hues in favor of fun spring shades, and now I'm ready to do the same with my makeup. One of the trends I'm loving right now is bright colored eyeliner.

Celebrities like Rihanna and Leighton Meester have wowed me in the past with daring jewel-toned eyeliner looks. Lately, though, the trend has also been gaining traction with the masses.

At a recent family barbecue my brother's incredibly stylish girlfriend was wearing the most eye-catching turquoise eyeliner. It looked so fresh and fun!

Shades of turquoise, electric blue, purple, green and bronze are lovely for spring and can really make your eyes pop.

When testing out this trend:

• Don't overdo it with eyeshadow! Bright blue eyeliner paired with bright blue shadow could easily get into 80's territory, and that is not what you want! For a more modern look, pair your bright eyeliner with neutral shadow.
• Experiment! Before investing in an expensive liner, test out different colors using drugstore brands, which sell a range of pretty eyeliner colors at affordable prices. 
• Try rimming your eyes all the way around with colored eyeliner then smudging it out for an updated smoky eye look. 

Last month at the Beautylish spring trend preview event I received an amazing gift bag containing, among many other products, Milani Liquif'eye eyeliner in "08 Blue." 

This smudge-proof eyeliner comes in a retractable applicator, meaning it never needs to be sharpened. It goes on incredibly smooth, without tugging on the eye at all, and is highly pigmented. I wore this eyeliner recently and got tons of compliments! It was a different look than I'm used to but I really liked it. 

If you're in the market for a colored eyeliner, here are some other great options:

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - $18

2. Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Liner - around $9
3. Sephora Collection Flashy Liner Waterproof - $8

What do you think of these shades? Do you ever wear colored eyeliner?

A gift for mom

I put together this cute gift basket for my mom for Mother's Day. She is a total beauty product junkie and deserves the best so I got her some of my favorites. You can't see everything in the basket but it was chalk full hair products, makeup and nail polishes, including:

• Batiste colored dry shampoo
• Shower Queen cupcake patterned shower cap
• Aveda Smooth Infusion shampoo and conditioner
• bareMinerals Flawless Definition mascara
• Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm
• OPI "Guy Meets Gal-Veston" nail polish (from the Texas collection, Spring 2011)
• OPI "Houston We Have a Purple" nail polish (from the Texas collection, Spring 2011)

Plus, two nice bottles of Italian wine and tea bags:

• Alice "Ose" Vino Spumante Rose Brut 
• Cortese “Bianchino,” Valli Unite
• Aveda comforting tea bags

I found the perfect little basket to put everything in at the Salvation Army for just $5 and dolled it up with a few sheets of pink tissue paper. It turned out great! 

I also ordered her a box of Myfaceworks "I need to be firm" collagen boosting sheet masks, which are absolutely amazing. I could not include them in the basket, though, because I ordered them too late. They'll be a special bonus gift when they arrive in a few days. 

Did you get your mom any beauty products for Mother's Day?

Review - Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips

I received this box of Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips as part of the amazing gift bag given to those who attended the NYC Beautylish spring trends preview event several weeks ago.

These nail polish strips can be found wherever Sally Hansen products are sold (typically in drug stores) and cost around $9 for one box. They come in a range of fun colors and patterns, including everything from "electric shock," the bright yellow color I received (above) to "booty camp," a hot pink camouflage pattern. 

Sally Hansen is my favorite drug store nail polish brand, so I was super excited to give this product a try.

The package contains everything you need to apply one full set of nail polish strips, including an instruction sheet, cuticle stick, mini nail file/buffer and 16 nail polish strips.

Without further ado... check out my results: 

Now here are my thoughts about this product:

Pros
On a positive note, these nail polish strips are actually quite easy to apply. The instructions are clear and I quickly got the hang of it after applying one or two strips. There is no drying time whatsoever. They adhered well to the nail and did not peel off easily. Plus, they stayed on for several days without chipping.

Also, the bright yellow color I used is incredibly eye-catching and vibrant. It's not a color I would have normally picked out, but I ended up loving it!

Cons
The only criticism I have of this product is the strip-per-box ratio. Each box contains 16 strips, which is only enough for one full manicure. It would be much better if they included just four more strips per package so it would be possible to get two manicures out of one box! I get that people have different nail sizes, but I really don't understand putting 16 strips in each box -- it seems like such a waste. It's not enough strips for two manicures, but too many for just one. Odd.

One tip
Like the Minx manicure, these nail polish strips work better on nails that are not super short. When applying these strips you'll need to file off the excess, so having a little growth on your nails makes the application much, much easier.

My thoughts overall
This is an ingenious product that I will most likely be trying again. Unless you're a master nail artist, you just can't get these kind of designs without getting a Minx manicure, which is much more costly.

Have you used these nail polish strips? Do you think you'll try them.

I started using Latisse! Here are my results after one week.

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know that I started using Latisse one week ago. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing, really. My mom told me that a few of her friends use Latisse and have the most amazing eyelashes. Being the beauty-obsessed person I am, I had to try it.

If you're not familiar with Latisse, it's a prescription cosmetic treatment used to grow lashes fuller, longer and darker. Before I get into all the nitty gritty details about the product, let's get right to the good stuff. Here are my results after one week of using Latisse:

As you can see, there hasn't been much of a change at all. It's only been one week though, and my eye doctor said I probably won't start to see results until after two.

Essential info

If you're interested in using Latisse you'll need to obtain a prescription from a doctor. The prescription is quite pricey -- it cost me about $125 to get it filled.

The solution comes in a tiny eyedropper bottle, and is applied with a small brush along the upper lashline. One bottle of Latisse is packaged with 60 brush applicators, and you're supposed to apply the solution before bed, using one applicator per eye.

To give you a little history lesson, Litisse actually started out as a medicine called Lumigan used to treat the eye condition glaucoma. As a glaucoma medicine, Lumigan is applied directly into the eye like an eyedrop. Patients using Lumigan noticed that their eyelashes grew super long. The company that manufactures the drug simply re-packaged the same solution under a new name and billed it as a "treatment" for inadequate lashes.

Possible side effects

It should be noted that Latisse has some possible side effects, including a darkening around the eye area where the solution is applied, irritation, redness and itching. The worst potential side effect, though, is that Latisse may cause increased brown pigmentation in the colored part of the eye and essentially permanently turn blue or light colored eyes brown. According to the company that makes Latisse, this has only happened when the solution was applied directly into the eye.

Since I have brown eyes anyway, that's not much of a concern for me. Also, I have not experienced any itching, darkening of the skin or any other negative side effects from using Latisse.

Of course, those considering Latisse should certainly consider the possible side effects and speak to a doctor about the risks.

Anyway, I'm super excited to be using it and hoping to see some dramatic differences soon. Every morning I run to the mirror hoping for a miracle! Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted.

Spring into this season with pink nail polish

Now that it's getting a tad bit warmer here in New York, I've been testing the waters with some springier nail polish shades. During the winter, I was hooked on painting my nails dark reds and purples. I am so over those shades now! I feel like it's time for some really fun pinks. I'm also determined to try light blue and pastel purple shades this season. For now, though, I have two pretty pink colors to share.

First up, OPI's My Chihuahua Bites!

A few weeks ago, I was hanging out with some girlfriends and they all had on such cute springy nail polish colors. One friend wore a peachy pink shade and another had on bright yellow. I just had to copy. So I got My Chihuahua Bites! and I love it. It's absolutely perfect for spring and summer.

Next up, I tried a slightly darker shade from OPI called Houston We Have A Purple.

The name isn't really that fitting because as you can tell, this is totally a pink. It's actually a dark beet shade. A very nice color, and perfect for this in-between time of year, when one day it feels like fall and the next it's spring again. 

What do you think of these shades? Have you transitioned to wearing springy nail polish colors yet, or are you still wearing your dark, wintery hues?

Two dry shampoos I'm not loving right now

So I recently tried dry shampoo for the first time. I know, I know, what took me so long? Better late than never, I guess. Anyway, it basically revolutionized my life. With dry shampoo, I can go several days without washing my hair, and that's a huge time saver! Turns out, though, not all dry shampoos are created equal...

You may remember that I previously tried Batiste colored dry shampoo and loved it. After my can of Batiste ran out, I wanted to play he field a little and test out some other brands. I got this:

Got 2b Fat-tastic Fresh & Full Dry Shampoo - $7.99

My first impression - it smells good! Like a tropical drink. My second impression - OMG, it looks like I have white roots!

After I brushed out the white residue, I realized that this product actually works pretty well. That is, until it stopped being a dry shampoo. After using it for a few days, the product no longer sprayed out as a dry powder, but as a liquid that dried powdery. I am not a fan of that.

Moving on....

Next, I tried:

Pssssst Professional Instant Dry Shampoo 7 oz. - $8.99

I'm not sure if the can I bought was defective, but nothing came out except for air! I literally had to hold the can upside down for any of the actual product to come out. Annoying! Has anyone else experienced that problem?

Regardless of the faulty sprayer, out of all three dry shampoos I tried, I liked the consistency of this one least. It was very heavy and honestly kind of made my hair feel dirty. Plus, like the previous Got 2b dry shampoo, it began to turn watery. What's up with that?

I'm going back to my Batiste colored dry shampoo because that one rocked! I know some of you have tried Got 2b and Pssssst dry shampoos - what do you think of them?

Beautylish beauty director, Ning Chao reveals her favorite product of the moment

Last night at the Beautylish 2011 spring trend preview event in New York City, I caught up with beauty director Ning Chao (left) to dish about the hottest beauty trends of the season -- the pastel smoky eye, bright lips and slicked back hair. Unfortunately, most of our interview got cut off, but I did manage to capture one awesome tidbit -- her favorite beauty product of the moment!

Want to know what it is? Check out the video below:

In keeping with the bright lip trend, her favorite product of the moment is Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine Lipgloss in #136 Secret, a gorgeous bright orange shade. The color looks super intense in the tube, but actually comes out really wearable, Chao said. I can attest that the color looked fabulous on her!

I'm officially inspired to ditch my neutral lipstick and experiment with some fun, bright lip shades this spring. If you plan on wearing bright lips this season, just remember that the key to pulling off this look is to keep the rest of your makeup neutral.

Have you ever tried Dolce & Gabbana lipgloss? What do you think about this shade? Will you be rocking bright lips this spring?

Beautylish 2011 NYC Spring Trend Preview

The lovely team at Beautylish.com held a spring trend preview event last night in NYC to welcome their new beauty director, Ning Chao. I was so honored to be invited to the event, which was held at the uber swanky Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo and featured makeovers, flowing cocktails, delicious h'ors doeuvres and of course, beauty products galore.

Makeup artists and stylists from Bare Escentuals, Tarte and Wella were on hand to demonstrate the smoky pastel eye, slicked back hair and bright lips -- three beauty trends that are sure to be hot this spring. I attended with a good friend, Melissa, and we had a blast getting our hair and makeup done, meeting other beauty bloggers, vloggers and editors, devouring decadent cupcakes and mini-grilled cheeses with truffle oil and drinking maybe one too many glasses of wine. 

Melissa (right) and I after getting our makeup touched up by Bare Escentuals artists. 

Donna Wagner, a stylist from NYC's Pipino Salon gives my hair a beachy, tousled look using Wella products. 

I left with an heavy goodie bag filled to the brim with new beauty products from Victoria Secret, Borba, E.L.F Cosmetics, Dior, Guess, Too Faced, Urban Decay, StriVectin, Sally Hansen, Talika, Reveal Halle Berry, Guess, the Balm, and much more! I am so excited to try my new products and share my reviews with you.

Thank you so much to Christina, Victoria, Ning and the rest of the Beautylish gang for a fabulous evening!

Review - Almay Bright Eyes eye base + concealer

I got this product the other day because I ran out of both concealers I usually use. I didn't feel like running all the way over to Sephora so I just picked up something at the Rite Aid down the street. After a little hemming a hawing in the makeup aisle, I settled on the Almay Bright Eyes eye base and concealer, which I got for 40 percent off! (For around $7; score!)

As you could probably tell by the name of the product, it is both a concealer especially for the eye area and an eyeshadow base. According to Almay, the product contains a blend of marine extracts and white tea that "helps reduce the appearance of dark circles. Visually depuffs the eye area. Provides a smooth canvas for eye shadow application."

So what do I think of it?

When I first tried this product I really hated the packaging. Note: I typically use Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer, which has a really cool applicator that allows you to put the smallest dot of concealer on a certain spot. This product is totally different. Basically, you have to squeeze the tube and the concealer comes out onto a little brush.

The first time I used this concealer, I found it really hard to control the amount of product coming out onto the brush. I had the same issue the second time I used it... so I really don't like that.

Now you're probably wondering how well the product actually works. My assessment is that it does what it's supposed to do. It does brighten and conceal the eye area very well. Check out my results:

As an eyeshadow base, however, it is just okay. It does not work as well as the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, which is what I generally use, but it's better than nothing. While it provides a smooth finish for eyeshadow, it does not help the shadow go on as vibrant as other eyeshadow bases I have tried.

Important Note: This product does not conceal blemishes completely. Even if you have clear skin with just a few discolored spots from past blemishes, this concealer will not fully conceal those areas.

My final assessment? 

This is actually a pretty ingenious product that works well as a concealer around the eye area and alright as an eyeshadow base. It will not fully cover blemishes, and the packaging could be better, but it is a good product for the price.

A massive beauty haul just took place!

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I got a haircut! Come see...

So my hair was getting out of control long and split-endy. It had been more than five months since my last haircut, so I was definitely due. The length isn't much different now, but a lot of hair came off and the ends are all nice and clean. I also curled my hair differently in the "after" photo. It's more of a beachy wave, rather than a traditional, spiral curl that I usually don.

What do you think? If you all like the beachy wave look, I'll film a tutorial video.

Beauty test run: Batiste brunette colored dry shampoo

I was talking to my friend who has the most beautiful long, flowing hair the other day. I randomly asked her how often she washes her locks and her answer totally suprised me!

"Once a week," my friend said.

My mouth totally dropped. I wash my hair every other day and can't imagine going a whole week without sudsing up. So how does she keep her hair looking so nice between washes? Dry shampoo.

"It's a total lifesaver," she said.

I've been wanting to try dry shampoo for what seems like forever, but that conversation drove me to finally actually go out and purchase some.

I picked up this "Batiste" brand colored dry shampoo, which is specially formulated for brown hair, and retails for around $8. After using this product several times, here are my initial reactions:

Pros: The product blends well into my brown hair and does not leave a chalky residue at all. It soaks up the oil at my roots and makes my hair look and feel refreshed. It has allowed me to go an extra day between washes. Plus, it has a nice cocoa butter smell that freshens up the hair.

Cons: My hair still looks better after it's been freshly shampooed and styled. Also, I found it slightly difficult to wash out.

Overall verdict: This products works well for the price and I will definitely continue using it until the can has run out.

Do you use dry shampoo? Which brand do you like the best? Can you believe I'd never tried it before?

Want to see my perfume collection?

Ahhh, perfume. The pretty bottles! The yummy scents! What's not to love? Everyone has their preferences, but here's what I'm currently using on regular rotation:

1. Juicy Couture - Viva La Juicy 

A floral and fruity mix of wild berry, mandarin, honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine. Touches of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and praline add a sweet touch. I got this perfume for Christmas because I'm a total Juicy Couture lover. The bottle is adorable and makes a great addition to any shelf or makeup stand. Plus, the smell is wonderfully girly. 

Perfect for: A girls night out. 

2. Banana Republic - Alabaster

This clean, fresh smelling fragrance is a combination of wild musk and natural florals. Delicate lotus flower, wild rose and warm musks make this perfume light and romantic. I could smell this all day, every day and be totally happy. This fragrance is very versatile and could appeal to anyone, regardless of age. 

Perfect for: Work. 

3. Christian Dior - J'adore 

This sensual, sophisticated fragrance combines the floral scent of orchids with plum and mellow amaranth wood. It's a unique-smelling perfume and a total classic. I bought this perfume en route to a Caribbean vacation so it will forever invoke fond memories of my trip to Punta Cana. 

Perfect for: Date night.

4. Ralph Lauren - Romance 

This feminine mix of wood, floral, and musk is a classic!  It's a combination of rose, marigold, ginger, chamomile, freesia, violet, lotus flower, day lily, patchouli, oakmoss and musk. Whew! Got all that? I have been wearing this perfume for about ten years and it still hasn't got old. It used to be my "signature" scent. I just love it. 

Perfect for: Anytime.

5. Gucci - Guilty

This mix of mandarin, pink pepper, peach, lilac, geranium, amber and patchoul "wakens the senses with a daring edge of sexyness and sensuality." This perfume just came out late last year, so if you haven't tried it yet, get yourself to Bloomies and give it a spray. When I first got this perfume I used to wear it all the time, but now I try to only limit it to special occasions. It's safe to say that this is my new favorite.

Perfect for: A special night out. 

6. Ralph Lauren - Blue

This soft, fresh scent it like a crisp button down shirt. It's a powdery, floral mix of jasmine, lily of the valley, lotus blossom, pink peony, gardenia, rose, musk and a hint of orange blossom. I've been wearing this fragrance for many years and sill find it feminine, yet refreshing. 

Perfect for: A summer day.

7. Tommy Hilfiger - Loud

Based on the "essence of a pulsating, energetic rock song," this energizing scent combines rose, lychee and patchouli. This perfume just came out late last year and I wasn't sure about it at first, but after wearing it a few times I fell in love. 

Perfect for: A concert.

So, those are my favorite perfumes of the moment. Do you agree or disagree with any of my picks? Which scents are you into right now?

P.S. I'm so sorry for being such a crappy blogger lately! I've been tremendously busy, but that's really no excuse for neglecting my readers. The good news, though, is that during my absence, I've stock piled a slew of new ideas for the blog, (including a new hair curling technique that I cannot wait to share with you all). Intrigued? Stay tuned!