A Makeover For An Occasional Redhead! Update!

UPDATE!!!
What do we think of the Argyle and the shades of purple?
I'm kind of feeling this pattern this season!  So much for cleaner!

Sometimes a change is the best feeling!
For the last while, I've wanted a new look for An Occasional Redhead. Something a bit cleaner, while being feminine still.

The last format was cute, but the new Donna is all about a modern vibe!

And purple, apparently!

Why now, you might ask?

Because, Ladies and Gents, I'm pretty fired up!

I've been up and down in the last ten days, and I'm really excited to tell you all about it in my next post!

Just you wait!

Donna Xoxo

PS- The fab nails above are a small hint of what's to come!!!!

Style Love: New Jewels from Forever21

I don't know if you've heard, but Toronto is hosting Canada's only conference for beauty and fashion bloggers. Spark Sessions is being held November 16th and 17th, and the speakers are BANANAS!

Can you say Jeanne Beker?  Elaine Liu from Lainey Gossip?

So excited to be there!

But, Holy Sh!t, is this stressful!

With the speakers, and the amazing bloggers that will be there, I feel like I really need to up my game!

No easy feat!

That's where a really cool accessory comes in!

I found some gorge pieces at Forever 21 that will add something extra to my outfits!

Lately I'm loving the midi-ring!  Midi-rings sit between the two knuckles at the tip of the fingers. The gold and black-enameled ring in the picture was $1.99. 

The necklace in the above pic hits on a couple of trends; gold and spikes. It feels so Rock and Roll!  I love this with something a little girly, or casual. It gives a bit of edge to a look. I think I paid $6.95 for the necklace, so I've had more than my money's worth. 

On a side note, did you see how slender my neck looks in that picture!  Wish I could use that angle for every profile pic. 

However, I digress...

The newest trend I've been drawn to lately is the ear cuff. I really like how it can be a pretty, elegant look, or very tough and punk-y. The cuffs I have on below are more on the elegant side. I like how it's a statement earring without the heft usually associated with one. My face is small and can look roundish, so I'm not always comfortable in a larger earring. This I can rock like a champ!

Well, Ladies, what jewellery trends are your favorites this season?  Any trends you love/hate?  

And, seriously, doesn't my neck look slim?

Donna Xoxo

Ps. I will write a huge post all about Spark Sessions!  Can't wait!  If you're there, say hi!  I'll be the short terrified one in the great accessories!

Wake-up Make -up! How to Fake It When You Need a Nap.

The last month of my life has been Cray-Cray!
My days have been filled with surgery, babies, and toddlers.
I'm recovering like a champ, and my two new nephews are adorable! 
My 24 year old year nephew and his amazing GF had a baby boy three days before my BFF and her husband had their second son. 
I was looking after Tommy, the most adorable two year old on the planet, while his Mom had a c-section.
Let me tell you, parenting is hard! 
I was glad that I had a few tricks up my sleeve so I didn`t look as if I had died and just hadn`t laid down yet!
I have to share them with the world!
They work for lack of sleep due to babies, as well as due to late night boozing.  (Hopefully not on the same night.)

The secret to looking alive is all in the product choices.
When you`re tired skin tends to be drier, so go with a tinted moisturizer or bb cream.  The extra hydration will be way more important than the extra coverage of a foundation.  Odds are the finish would end up chalky.  Concealer is also your friend at times like these!  In moderation, of course.
As for eyes, keep shadow soft and warm.  I usually go for a pale to mid-tone gold on the lid, and champagne or soft pink on the browbone and inner corners.  Some brown liner and lots of mascara on the top lid of the eye will give a bit of a lift.  Don`t forget to fill in the brows!
The best cheek on a day like this will be fresh and softly sculpted.  Use a soft champagne hilight and a bright pink on the apple for a youthful glow.  Don`t be afraid of hot pink blush!  Something like Lancôme's Cosmopolitan Pink, pictured above, will leave the prettiest flush when applied with a careful hand.
A bright berry lip is the best thing to wake up a tired or dull face!  I wanted a lip that was a raspberry shade.  Almost wine, but brighter.  I used a bright pink-red lip-liner and a deep berry glossbalm on top.  Love the feel of the Naturelux Glossbalm by Covergirl!  It leaves a fairly opaque colour on the lips and feels comfy!
These are just the tip of the iceberg, really.  I`d love to hear any tricks you ladies have on looking way more awake than you feel!  I have the feeling I`m going to need them!

Donna Xoxo

Cold Weather Superstars From The Body Shop

Fall has arrived! 

It's cold and dreary today, and my dog just wants to snuggle on the couch. So do I, so that works for me!

Days like this are perfect for some TLC on your skin, whether it's to treat dryness or prevent it. 

From now on we're all going to be bombarded with cool wind outside and heating inside. The drastic temperature shifts along with dry air are going to wreak havoc on your whole body!  It's all about gentle moisture these days!

The best thing to do is start with a good exfoliation. I said good, not aggressive. Try a home microdermabrasion like The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion if your skin isn't very sensitive. It's also available in a single use sachet which is great!  I'm pretty sensitive so I like the Aloe line. It's a gentle exfoliation, but it gets the job done!  On your body, use a scrub with an emollient base, like The Shea Butter Scrub. It leaves you feeling smooth and dreamy!  The grains are all natural with these products, so they're Eco friendly, and they all run about $20.00. 

Next, a hydrating mask is a huge must!  The best thing about this type of mask is there are no real rules!  Put it on and watch a movie, do some laundry, whatever!  Your skin will only take as much as it needs. Wipe the excess off gently with tissue or a damp face cloth, and continue with the rest of your usual routine. In the cooler months it's a good idea to add a serum. It's always a good idea to use a one of these powerhouses whether it's soothing, anti-aging or mattifying, but a hydrating serum will be your best friend this time of year.

After you've scrubbed your body into deliciousness, go immediately and grab you Body Shop Body Butter. This is the OG of body butters and nothing beats these. The richness of the texture and the scent is beautiful. Back in the mid 90's Kate Moss used the mango butter in a Vogue editorial. I have been hooked ever since!  God, I love the Brazil Nut!  It's just gorgeous, and it makes your skin so soft and, well, buttery!  

This year, a Dry Oil was released in corresponding scents. The Beautifying Oils can be used on hair, face, and body. I've used it on all three and I'll tell you, it lives up to the claims. Since going blonde my hair's dry. I smooth a few drops through it every day and it's shiny and healthy looking. I also put a little on the driest areas of my face at night. I wake up soft and dewy since I've started doing that. When used on the body? It leaves the prettiest sheen on the skin. It's amazing on the cuticles too!

Go to The Body Shop right now!  The quality is spectacular and they have amazing promos all the time.  Not to mention the best loyalty card program I've ever heard of!  

If you've read my blog before, you know how much I love The Body Shop. I truly believe that you will too!

What are your skin superstars?

Donna Xoxo

"Rosie" Lips

I was reading People Stylewatch the other day and have come to a conclusion.  Guys, I need Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's lips.
Not just because they get to kiss Jason Statham either, although, that is a major selling point!
It's the pillowy, pouty quality of them in the pic that I fell in love with!  The texture is beautiful, as well as the colour.  She tends to wear a lipstick which is the perfect shade of rosey-nude.
When I wear lipstick, it's usually a statement shade, or a beigey tone if I'm doing a smokey eye and its never on the matte side.
Well, that has all changed, thanks to Rosie!

I have a fairly dark pigment to my lips, so I had to play around with a few different products to get the texture and shade I was after.  The final look was achieved with three products.
1- Lancome Le Lipstique Sheer Lip Liner in Sheer Raspberry all over the lips.  This is a warmer toned pink which gave me a nice smoothness to the lip colour.
2- Lancome Colour Design in Vintage Rose. This lipstick is a very soft pink with a touch of mauvey irridesance to it.  Ultra girly!
3- elf Matte Lip Colour in Nearly Nude.  This is a very pale matte beige.  I applied this sparingly near the middle of the mouth for a little dimension. I pressed this in with my finger to give the lips an almost "worn in" look.
I am of the opinion that make-up is alchemy a lot of the time. If you don't have the exact shade or texture you're after, play around with what you do have!  You might surprise yourself!
I am absolutely going to add this lip look to the rotation!
Do you guys like it on me?  Be honest!!!!

Donna Xoxo

Sonia Kashuk Brushes, and Why You Need Them.

If you are anything like me, you get a HUGE thrill from a good makeup brush. It is so important to have the right tool for the job!  

When Target opened in my area, I bee-lined to the Sonia Kashuk brushes!  The quality is spectacular and so is the price! There's a couple that were missing from my arsenal, and I'm going to brag all about them today!

First is the Flat Top Multipurpose Brush, which lives up to its name, and then some!  The first time I stumbled upon this type of beauty was a Lancome brush years ago. It's a great brush for applying a creamy foundation or blush. It buffs the product right in for a flawless finish. I also like it for contouring. It fits wonderfully under the cheekbone!  And the black sculpted handle is just sooo pretty!

Next I have the Duo-fibre multipurpose brush. Again, this brush is so versatile!  Because of the differing lengths of the bristles, the application of product is diffuse and sheer. It's great for a hilighter, either powder or cream, and a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. A few sweeps of hilighter on top of the cheekbones and down the nose with this beauty will leave you with a soft luminescence. The black and white handle looks very chic too!

The finish from these brushes will leave behind beautiful, glowy skin. For under $20.00 each, these brushes are must haves!  

Go get them!!!

I'd love to hear about any brush faves everyone else has!  Do tell!

Donna Xoxo

My Favourite Fall Look Featuring Clinique and The Body Shop

Happy September!

I like summer, but I'm totally a fall girl!  I love the richness of the colours associated with fall. I'm also a big fan of layering clothes. There is nothing I enjoy wearing more than a scarf with a great cardi!

I'm also sooo excited to update my makeup look!  There are two things in particular which are absolute musts this season for me. 

Matte, but still luminous skin, and deep plum or berry lips. 

I started with a smooth canvas. I applied a foundation with a medium-full coverage. I'm really in love with the Extra Virgin Mineral foundation from The Body Shop. The coverage is buildable, and the finish is smooth. It blends well, and feels quite creamy. It has a nice glow to it. After adding powder, you're left with a finish that's not chalky.  Matte, but luminous!  A little concealer and cream hilighter helped too!

I added a softly defined eye next with, of course, lots of lashes, (Thank you L'oreal Double Extend Mascara!!!!) along with a sculpted cheek. 

On to the lippy!

I have always loved Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey!  It can look terrifying in the tube, but, don't be scared!  It goes on quite sheer and leaves a beautiful blackberry stain. The texture is between a balm and a full coverage lipstick. Apply it with a finger for more of a true stain, or straight from the tube with a lip liner as I have in the picture for a more opaque finish. 

This face is the kind of look I'll be wearing all over the place these days!  It works with jeans and a pair of Toms while running errands on a Wednesday just as well as it will while having a couple of drinks on a Saturday night. Different footwear, of course!

What is your go-to face for this fall going to be?  I'd love to hear!  Now, as for the hair situation above, I'm waaayyy overdue for a cut and colour!  It's getting remedied tomorrow. 

Don't judge me!!!

Donna Xoxo