Months ago, as part of Mattieologie’s blog event, I shared snapshots of how I style some of my many scarves in unexpected ways. A lot of you had been intrigued by the scarf-turned-shoulder-bag, so this week I thought I’d revisit that. Hopefully this little tutorial gives a bit more insight into how it’s done!
01. Lay your scarf out flat
02. Fold it in half
03. Knot both edges, leaving some length at the ends.
04. Unfold the scarf and tuck the knots underneath.
05. Flip the entire scarf over so your knots are facing up again.
06. Join the ends, lifting the scarf and shaking it gently to settle it into shape.
07. Knot the handles (for definition; if you want a slouchier bag you can skip this step).
08. Join the handles together and tie a small knot at the top.
09. Fill with your favorite beach reads and other goodies.
10. Proudly flaunt your scarf bag!
Tip: It’s best to use a square scarf for this trick – especially a big one, which gives you more to work with.
Have fun! And check back tomorrow for a special interview and a look at some truly spectacular jewelry.
I’m not typically extremely coordinated when it comes to manicures (one of the many reasons I love my Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips!) but I was feeling creative with this festive set of colors so I decided to give it a whirl. The shades from Ulta have the tiniest bit of glitter in the formula that makes them feel even more appropriate for the holidays!
I used:
- ULTA Professional Nail Polish in Bad Santa (red), Twisted Tinsel (silver) and Evergreen
- Scotch tape
Scotch tape is a pretty ingenious and perfectly easy way to create detail on your nails without additional purchases of nail polish pens and the like (though those are obviously much more versatile). Once you find a technique that works for you the possibilities are endless. I was going to try silver tips on all the nails, but I like the definition here. And I left the ring fingers as accent nails, though I’m still contemplating going back to make red and green stripes across them.
A tip: I painted my nails the base colors the day before I used the tape, just to be sure they were completely dry. I also applied several clear top coats for smoothness and shine.
On a recent trip to
Ulta a visiting make-up artist gave me a demonstration of the
China Doll Gel Eyeliner by Napoleon Perdis. I wear eyeliner daily, yet I had never really tried the gel- or cream-based products that are on trend. Before I get to talking about this particular eyeliner I thought I’d delve a bit into the topic of gel eyeliner as a whole and how it differs from the standard pencil and liquid liners.
Gel eyeliner: the pros and cons
- A little goes a long way.
It’s very important to remember that, not only to make the application process easier, but also to make the product last longer. When you look into gel eyeliners from prestige brands they can get expensive so using too much just becomes a waste of money. They also come in very small packaging which can easily make the prices seem all the more unreasonable.
- Application could (possibly) be time-consuming.
Once you get a good handle on how to apply it the gel eyeliners can be done relatively quickly. It still becomes the more tedious part of my make-up process, however, and on days when I want a quick (or, as quick as my make-up gets) look I find myself grabbing a different eyeliner alternative instead.
- The strongest pigment, plus versatility.
Gel eyeliners – the good ones – have striking color and dramatic effect. Both a smudge-proof line and a smokey eye can be achieved, and they seem to be popular for their staying power. Quite frankly, the technology behind them seems much more advanced than other types of liners.
Gel vs. pencil vs. liquid
Go for gel if you want…
- Drama
- Versatility
- Long wear
- (But be willing to take the time for it.)
Go for pencil if you want…
- A natural look
- Fast and easy application
- Simplicity
- (Dramatic looks will be limited, however.)
Go for liquid if you want…
- Precision
- Flexible application
- Definition
- (Though you’ll likely have the least versatility.)
How Napoleon Perdis stands up
My go-to has lately been Urban Decay‘s eye pencils because I find the consistency easy to work with (I would call it something of a cream-based pencil, which is how it gets its name: Glide-On). This gel turned out to be a wonderful alternative, though, and I find it has a bit more staying power than Urban Decay’s pencil. I always thought Urban Decay had a strong pigment, too, but next to the Napoleon Perdis gel there’s really no contest. Being that it’s one of the very few gel eyeliners I’ve tried I can’t attest to its worth in the market, but I can say that I’m officially a fan. I find it so easy (though not the fastest) to apply, it dries quickly, and once it does dry it really doesn’t go anywhere. I’ve heard accounts of flaking from gel eyeliners, though I’ve not yet had that problem with China Doll. It’s all-around a great product!
And, lastly…a demo!
Here comes the scary part. As I contemplated centering a post around the gel liner I knew the most effective way to relay its consistency would be to give a demonstration of my own. This is my very first attempt at a make-up “vlog” so please pardon the ums, that awkward moment when I forget which word I wanted to use, and the inevitable deer-in-the-headlights face. Otherwise…enjoy!
Beauty Demo: Napoleon Perdis Gel Eyeliner from Casee Marie on Vimeo.
If you’ve tried gel eyeliners in the past I’d love to know about your experience!
