The Wait is Over!

And I'm IN!
I am overjoyed to announce on this little blog with only three followers that I will be attending the Taste of L'Oreal Weekend in February. I received the email below yesterday.

Starting this blog I wanted to document my journey into the beauty industry and I've posted a few things here and there about interviewing for a couple different companies but this is sort of like the BIGGEST thing that has happened in that pursuit. Although I have not officially been selected for a summer internship, I feel good because in all honestly, I didn't have to interview to attend this event. Because I won the Howard level of the Brandstorm competition I was guaranteed a spot however, I applied anyway because at the time my team did not know if we would be representing Howard at nationals. It just feels really good to be able to go on merit and not on a technicality.  

Waiting for L'Oreal is HARD!

This is a blog about my journey into the beauty industry and I must say I have not really talked about that too much. So this post is an update and the type of post I should be writing anyways. 

I interviewed with L'Oreal last week for the Taste of L'Oreal weekend last Friday. The anticipation about if I am selected to attend is driving me nuts! Its very hard to wait for something you want so badly. I registered online in November and over 1000 juniors did the same. I was selected for a phone interview out of the 1000 (although I am not sure how many others were being interviewed). They said that the decision would be discussed Monday so hopefully I will hear back early this week... but early this week is turning into the middle of the week. Patience is a virtue I clearly lack. 

I will update the moment I find out!

On an unrelated note. I found out my grades today and yippee (!) all As (except for that frustrating B in Quantitative Business Analysis, but who really could do well in such a boring class) giving me a 3.81 GPA. Congrats to me, I worked hard for it. 

Christmas Gift Guide 2010

My dad claims that each year it gets harder and harder to shop for me and my sister. I sincerely beg to differ because it does not take much to make me happy when it comes to presents! I told my dad to go to Sephora and have a sales person help to pick out one of the many gift sets available this time of year. 15 minutes later I get a panicky call saying he is overwhelmed and to please come immediately!

When I reached him he was surrounded by 2 laughing moms and the only male sales assistant in the store. It was quite funny I must admit. What we ended up doing was take a tour around the store of the different holiday sets each brand offered. From there he chose the ones he liked the best from the ones I liked. We ended up with three gift sets that I think are the best values. So if you are still doing some last minute Christmas shopping... consider these. 

Tarte: The Jewelry Box available HERE 
This set retails for $52 but you get 32 FULL SIZED shadows, 8 lip colors, 5 eye liners and 2 face powders.Extra bonus: it comes with a gold tone chain necklaces that can be taken off the top and worn.  

Tarina Tarantino Jewel Box available HERE
I love this one because not only is it an incredible value at $39 but it also comes with beautiful colors and the makeup section can be removed and its a wonderful functional jewelry box! 

Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot available HERE
Zero is my go to black eye liner because it is so smooth and super pigmented. This collection comes with a full-sized Zero (black) and 9 minis in various colors. At $39, it may not be a value set however it IS a great way to try out several colors before committing to a full-sized ($17).

L'Oreal Brandstorm 2011

L'Oreal hosts a brandstorm challenge every year for college students to compete in marketing to launch a new product or service under the L'Oreal umbrella. This year we have to create something that will get men into salons. Hummm... now that IS a challenge. Only 8 universities in the US participate so check out www.brandstorm.loreal.com to see if you can participate. I believe the deadline is TODAY so hurry!   

Its Been Too Long

It has been WAY TOO LONG since I last wrote a blog post.
But really, nothing has come of my dreams for cosmetic glory...
The job at LUSH fell through and I haven't had much motivation to look for something else.
I will say one thing, the month I spent without my video camera really hurt the amount of videos I have posted on youtube. I will make a point to start that up again.
Better updates and more interesting comments coming soon!! haha

Kelsey

Interview with LUSH!

Hey everyone, 
long time no post... final week... enough said
But on the brighter side
I have an interview with LUSH cosmetics tomorrow afternoon!

As you can see with my last post, I am a huge fan of lush products and I've spent this month reviewing products that I purchased in April for a huge haul/ review video that I should be getting out this week.

I met with a wonderful woman and alumni of Howard University who reminded me that I need to take the next step in becoming a professional in the cosmetic/beauty industry. Let me clarify, I am not interested in becoming a makeup artist although I do love to apply makeup. I am more on the business side of innovation, marketing and packaging. Anyways, back to the story, this woman told me how when she was my age (lol I know, how funny does that sound that a twenty something is reminiscing about when she was my age and I'm only 20) she printed out a directory of the malls in DC and went up to every beauty store in the DMV practically looking for a job which she found at Origins.

So I followed her advice and applied to LUSH and I guess the moral of that story is if you want something, you need to get off your behind and search for it because it won't just fall in your lap right?!

Wish me luck!
kelsey

What A Great Day At LUSH

For those of you new to LUSH Cosmetic, I highly recommend you check it out!
There is one in Georgetown not too far from campus which was hosting an event today based around the famous Washington DC cherry blossom. 


I was fortunate enough to receive a goodie bag filled will soaps, cleaners, shampoos and so much more...


I will do a full review after I use them but I bought a repeat that I think you need to know about right away!


My favorite of the moment is Buffy
http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/body/body-butters/buffy

Buffy is an exfoliating/ moisturizing bar. It is supposed to be great for cellulite and smoothing out the skin. I use it right after a shower before I step out and rub myself down head to toe. Then I massage it in to get the full benefit of the exfoliating particles. After I rinse and towel dry and TaDa! no need to moisturize either!! I promise you will love it.


 Please check it out. You will not be disappointed. 


Kelsey

Its Easter! Eggs are more than just for decorating...

The incredible edible egg!
Yes it is incredible, but it can be used in so many more places than just the kitchen.
Egg yokes are full of protein which is great for your muscles and for your hair. 
Use it as a hair mask and then wash it out for strong shiny locks!


I found this recipe for an egg white facial mask: why not give it a try? 

1. Take one egg
2. Break it.
3. Separate out the yoke 
4. Tie your hair back fro your face so it doesn't get stuck in the egg.
5. Pat the egg white onto a clean face avoiding your eyes and mouth.
6. Let it dry—about 10 minutes for it to dry tight.
7. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
8. Let your face air dry

Have a wonderful Easter everyone!

Kelsey

Clear Skin-a smooth base

Clear skin is the most important thing when it comes to beauty, makeup, and confidence. 


What you put in your body drastically impacts how it looks on the outside.
Check out these foods and drinks that will turn problem skin into a glowing complexion 

Water: Have six glasses each day.

Colorful fruit and vegetables: Have five daily servings, including red/orange/yellow vegetables and fruits, purple foods, green foods, onions and garlic,and ‘seed’ foods such as peas.

Fresh seeds: Each day have one tablespoon of mixed fresh seeds, e.g. pumpkin, sunflower, sesame or ground hemp/linseed.

Essential fats: Have a tablespoon of cold-pressed seed oils daily and oily fish three times a week.

Fiber-rich foods: Eat plenty of whole grains, root vegetables, lentils and beans.

Organic foods: Eat organic as far as possible.

Alternatives to dairy products: Try sometimes using alternatives to milk and cheese such as Soya, milk and tofu.

Vegetable sources of protein: Include some Soya, beans, lentils and sprouted seeds.Yoghurt: Have low-fat, live, organic yoghurt.

Alcohol: Avoid completely or limit your alcohol intake.

Tea and coffee: Have no more than two cups a day.

Importance of Business Connections!

So I have one thing I wanted to hammer home not only about the beauty industry but whatever profession you want to get into. MAKE BUSINESS CONNECTIONS!!


A woman from a scholarship program I applied for contacted me and although I did not win the scholarship money she did offer me some contacts at L'Oreal. 


Although all the internship opportunities at her company are for upperclassman, getting to know people in the industry never hurts because you never know what doors will open up for you. 


So in conclusion I just want to say take advantage of ever opportunity. It is not always about what you know but WHO you know and people learn as they go. Its ok not to know everything right away. 


More posts will definitely be coming soon. Check out my youtube page for a number of videos I have posted lately. 


Until next time,
Kelsey

Foundation Formulation: How Coverage Changes

Thank you to my wonderful Irish grandma Mary for my wonderful freckles. When I was little I was told they were angle kisses.
Lets be honest. Freckles are not always the look...
And for that they invented foundation!
Nowadays it comes in sooo many different formulations. I thought it might be helpful to review some different types and how well they cover up my little angel kisses.
Check out my youtube video with a complete review but here are the products I compared.

Cream








Whipped

Mineral

Powder Stick

Liquid 




YouTube Review Click Here

Cosmopolitan Trick Uses Drugstore Products

I love flipping through the beauty section of magazines when I stop by Boarders.
When I saw an article in Cosmopolitan about tricks the celebrities use to look flawless that featured Wet'n Wild products I instantly had to read.
I posted the article below:

Bigger, Sexier Eyes

First, reach for liner. Skip black — like an LBD, it narrows your shape — and use a colored one to define your top lash line, says celebrity makeup artist Carmindy. (Blues and greens not your thing? Reach for slate, which looks awesome on everyone.) Now, swipe a shimmery white shadow onto your inner corners in a sideways V shape to catch light, which widens eyes. Finally, make your eyelash curler your BFF. Crimping the top lash line angles hairs so tips are closer to your brows, expanding the entire eye area. Immediately lock in the curve with two coats of lengthening mascara.

Wet n Wild Idol Eyes, $2 each 

As a college student I am all about getting the look for less. Whats great about this trick is that it its perfect for young ladies like myself. 

If you decide to try this out I would recommend using an emerald or olive green if you have brown eyes. 

Grey eyes look stunning next to lavender.

Blue eyes can pull off using shades of blue to bring out the natural eye color but also light greys.   

 If you still a bit conservative using a dark plum or olive will give the effect without being overpowering. especially if you use the liner only on the bottom lashes only. Because you apply mascara to the bottom lashes after the color will just be peaking out. 

But in general cootos to cosmo for not snubbing inexpensive products!

 

Macy's, Sephora, Forever 21... Cash Money!

My bank statement came in the inbox yesterday and I think its safe to say that I am officially a broke college student. 
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
So I hopped on the yellow line train and took a ride to Pentagon City Mall. I figured if I need to make some money, I might as well do it and be around what I love the most... Makeup!
My application is now in at Macy's downtown DC.
Another one will soon be in the hands of the manager of Sephora and (only because they were hiring and I NEED a job!) Forever 21.
But honostly, this could be a really good thing for me. 
What better way to get experience with application and knowledge of different products. 
So wish me luck! 
I'll keep you posted.

Valentines Day Red Lips

Humm... what should I wear for Valentines Day??? 

Whatever you end up wearing make sure you pair it with Red Lips!

They are a lot easier than you would think. Let me start by saying this look is perfect for those without dates too because you can still look fly without having to reapply lipstick all the time. For those with men taking them out to dinner, watch out because you may have other men following you to your table these lips are so hot!


For a red lip, the most important thing I staying power! Nothing is worse than a red lip that turns pink... all over your teeth... and all over everyone else. I used a lip color by Revlon because I like that it stays on and has a matte finish. I find that when I use a glossy red it has a higher likelihood of ending up on my teeth and feathering off my lips. 


But red is great for so much more than just Valentines day. Color theory states that:

"Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. Red represents energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. "

This is why I wear red lips with my power suit. It shows I am powerful and full of passion and energy. 

Try out the red lip and let me know what you think.

Youtube Tutorial Click Here

True Blue Disappearing Act Review

I was recently back in my home state Wisconsin and due to the crazy amount of snow DC had, I couldn't get back to campus. After many hours on hold with an emergency travel agent hotline I admitted defeat and realized no plane was going to be flying into Washington that night. To boost my spirits me and my mother headed over the the Bath and Body Works outlet! YAY!

I picked up a whole bunch of goodies and one of them was the "True Blue SPA: disappearing act instant cuticle remover." The instructions claim

...Make dry, ragged cuticles disappear- in just seconds. 

Dab product onto cuticles and wait about 20 seconds for cuticles to soften. 

Then gently push them back with the slanted applicator tup or a manicure stick and rinse well with soap and water for neat cuticles and a manicure so perfect you'll swear it's magic...

So I did... here are the results

I admit, not bad but it was not as magical as it sounded on the label. 

After I pushed the cuticle back I used a cuticle clipper to get rid of the dead skin. But I will say that it did soften up my cuticles and I was able to trim all of the dry gunk off! 

Pros: Cap doubles as a tool, mixture is clear, packaging is easy to hold. softens up cuticles as claims, works quickly, easy clean up, easy application 

Cons: Need to use a trimmer after applying product.

Price: The original price of the product is $8 but at the outlet store it only cost $2 (another yay!) 

Overall I would say that it is a good product but I don't do my nails enough at home to spend full price on it again. If you have $8 burning a whole in your pocket I say give it a go. 

Oh, side note, I just checked online to see if it was available at bathandbodyworks.com and it is not. You will have to find it in the store. 

The Journey Begins

Last night I got a call from an alumni of Howard University where I go to school.
She told me she received my resume and wanted to help me achieve my dream of working in the cosmetic industry. 
She broke it down for me talking about what would set me apart and how I have to be aggressive.
With her inspiration I decided to start a beauty blog. 
This will follow my journey into the cosmetic industry but also have links to video tutorials on youtube and product reviews. 
The adventure has begun!  
How far can I get in 2 1/2 years before graduation?
I guess we will find out....
Youtube- First video tutorial