1. Jergens Natural Glow - They relaunched this product without the funny "self tan" smell and now it's better than ever. It forces me to put on sunblock every day and my reward is a slow build of natural looking color.
2. Garnier BB Cream - Don't waste your money on higher end brands of BB Cream. This is THE BEST. My skin glows.
3. Nuance Sea Salt Spray - I saw Salma Hayek on some show talking about her Nuance products and decided to give it a whirl. I'm loving this spray. I'm growing out my sleek bobs with bangs and I'm currently in that in-between phase, where I need a lot of texture to grow this mane out. This works like a charm and smells yummy!
4. CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara - While at the drugstore, I texted my makeup artist sis asking her for a cheapo, but good mascara that would give me huge lashes without flaking. She typed back in all caps; GET THE ORANGE TUBE! She was right.
5. Elf highlighter/concealer duo - I got this at Target on a whim (because it was like $3 bucks) and surprisingly love it! It's perfect to pop in your purse for touch ups and the white highlighter end can be used in so many ways; above brows, top of cheekbones, the bow of your lips when doing red lipstick...
6. Rimmel Soft Kohl liners in white and black - These are so soft they glide on with ease. The black is perfection for smoky eyes and the white helps to wake up your eyes when used on the inside lower rim.
7. Loreal Paris The Super Slim 12 hour Infallible Liquid Liner - This makes a cat eye so easy! It's not completely smudge proof, but definitely stronger than others I've used. The sharp tip make a perfect wing!

Current drugstore beauty obsessions

OK, I never really jumped on the BB Cream bandwagon when it was all the hype. But this baby is the bomb. I don't really know what it's doing, but what it's doing is good. I had previously been splurging on this and I'm just as happy (if not more) with this. Sold. Done. Every day. Thank you.

Maybelline Great Lash is endorsed by my mother and her mother (and probably her mother too), the first mascara I ever put on my eyes, a timeless favorite of makeup artists and friends alike, and something I always go back to. This new wand created for Lots of Lashes though, really is something special. It gets all those tiny baby lashes that are usually missed and really does what it claims. You have a ton of lashes! My only complaint is the way it flakes a bit and feels a little on the stiff side. Otherwise, gold.

I don't know if I've mentioned this Outlast Lip Color before (forgive my baby brain if I have) but this stuff...THIS STUFF is amazing. Since a red lip is my every day go to, I wear this baby non-stop. Speaking of baby, baby - I can kiss my little dude all day long with this stuff and it never rubs off. The moisturizing top coat keeps things smooth and can be reapplied throughout the day. I just wish, wish, wish it came in a bright retro red. This vintage loving girl would be in heaven. In the meantime, this coral color keeps me happy.

Anything you're loving at your local drugstore lately?

Transformative Beauty: Less is More

It's such a cliché. When I was younger I couldn't wait to grow up. Now that I'm older, I wish I could go back in time. I do. But only to wipe some of that makeup off of my face. 








It's funny how things change... and how great it is to have some wisdom stacked up behind me. Certainly, there's room to keep growing and learning, but one lesson I'm pretty sure I've nailed down is in the beauty department -- specifically, makeup. 

Now, this lesson didn't happen overnight. Oh, no. There were several adolescent instances of a super-smudgy eye look gone wrong. Layers upon layers of blush and lipstick. Lipliner, eyeliner, concealer lines, a literal rainbow of shades upon my lids. And most of the time, these heavy-handed tasks happened simultaneously. Yikes.

I used to think that if makeup could make a woman beautiful, then using it (and a lot of it!) could make me feel beautiful too. The truth is, not a product in the world can do that for us, ladies. It happens to be true what they say: Beauty does resonate, reverberate, and reflect from the inside out. So why not just accentuate what we have? And let's do it one feature at a time.

I have learned from trial and error that this is my best look. I looove me some bright lips. It suits me. It suits my wardrobe, my lifestyle -- and it makes me feel like myself. (A very feminine version of myself!) A flick of a cat-eye with liquid liner, coats of thickening mascara, and zero shadow let my lips do all the talking.

Focusing on one feature is key. A smoky eye is soooo sexy, and who doesn't want that? But my eyes will get lost in all that color if I don't choose the right shade, the right placement, the right amount. Learning how to do this was life changing. And learning that when I do rock a heavy eye, I need to keep those lips in the nude... well, that was the most important lesson of all. 

Big beauty moment that has changed your life? I'd love to know! xx

This post is part of BlogHer’s Transformative Beauty editorial series, made possible by Sonia Kashuk at Target.

My Morning Routine

I always feel a bit better if I do these few simple steps in the morning. I've talked about my love of hot rollers here, it really is the easiest way to achieve pretty hair without the fuss. If I'm not tossing my hair up in a bun, I'm doing this! I just pop them in and let them heat while I swipe on a cat-eye, curl and coat mascara, concealer touch-ups where needed and some blush and lips. Done!

Fancy faux bob tutorial!

I'm a big fan of the faux bob. Mostly because at least once a month I want to hack my hair completely off. Now that I have two babies, the urge is getting even stronger. So to keep me away from the kitchen scissors (I've made my stylist promise to never cut it off right after I have a baby) I found another way to get my fix - a seriously cute faux bob created by just using a headband! 

Here's how you do it: 

1. Start with a little wave and texture in your hair. Find the prettiest, glitziest headband and place it around your head like a crown. Grab a hold of your mane in the back like a low ponytail. 

2. Tuck the ends of the pony up and over into the headband.

3. Roll. And roll again. Tucking tightly as you go. (The amount of times you roll is dependent on the length and thickness of your hair. In my case, I rolled three times.) 

Miraculously, no bobby pins were needed! But if you want a more secure and stylized version, feel free to play around with bobby pins. Mist with a little hair spray and you're done! 

Let me know if you give it a try! 

A makeup tutorial video

My sisters, The Judo Twins are at it again. Here they show you how to create makeup looks using only concealer.



PS - How much do we love the song?!

Dove Conditioner Review & $1,000 SpaFinder gift card giveaway!

I have to admit, I'm already a fan of Dove. I use Dove deodorant (this one specifically) and Dove soap on a daily basis. My husband, daughter and I all use the sensitive skin unscented beauty bar. (I even use it on my face every night!)

I love Dove's mission for real women, real beauty and real role models for a generation that needs it more than ever. So I was thrilled when asked to participate in a test group for one of their newest conditioners, the Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner.

The first thing I noticed about this conditioner was the delicious scent. It has a buttery, almost vanilla hint to it and the gold color and creamy texture glided through my hair with ease. I left it in for about 10-15 minutes (as I usually do for conditioners) while I finished up my shower routine. After rinsing it out, I was surprised at how soft and sleek my hair felt immediately. And after it dried, the sleekness and softness stayed!

I have a tendency to just throw my long hair up in a bun when the weather is hot (especially since heat is one of the main factors contributing to dry, frizzy hair), but after using this conditioner, I wanted to leave it down! I immediately got a compliment on how pretty my hair looked when I dropped my little girl off at school! Even the hubs said my hair smelled wonderful and was touchably soft and smooth.

No frizz, no greasy, weighed-down feeling. Just soft, nourished and healthy hair! Dove just made me an even bigger fan!

Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove^®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

Drugstore scores! 69¢ Lips + Waterproof Mascara

Ladies, I couldn't do a beauty week without sharing a super thrifty find or two ... And this one makes me absolutely giddy!

Major drugstore scores! ~ Wet n' Wild lip liner! I'm serious. Wet n' Wild! I snatched a couple up the other day because they were on sale for mere pennies (original price 99¢ down to 69¢!), not expecting much at all. Would you believe the color is to die?! I also found my new fave waterproof mascara!

Haven't worn Wet n' Wild since Jr. High? Give this baby a try. I'm totally obsessed. I filled in the entire lip to create a matte lipstick and it's a really classic, red-red. Pump it up with another drugstore fave of mine, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Love That Red" (Currently out of stock, but I found it for you on Amazon
here.)

I've also been on the hunt for a good waterproof mascara, so on the same trip, I decided to give Almay's one-coat thickening mascara  a go. It's also a winner! Super feathery and light, creating subtle, yet bold lashes that didn't budge or flake all day. I simply swiped it off with Almay makeup remover pads at the end of the night. (Baby oil or Vaseline also does the trick!)

Happy, thrifty shopping, loves! xx

GlamGlo Video - A demo by {my sisters} The Judo Twins

As promised, the first video installment for my baby sisters' YouTube beauty tutorial channel, The Judo Twins.

One week using GlamGlo and I'm already a fan. It's an all natural mud mask that not only awakens the collagen to improve the texture of the skin, but helps to correct discoloration due to the sun or other elements (or in my case, pregnancy!) I promise to post some before and after pictures of my skin very soon. It's that good!

In the meantime, enjoy the video, read the reviews for yourself and stay tuned for a special Glam Glow giveaway exclusively for November Grey readers!

{Guest Post} My two favorite beauty products ~ by makeup artist, Lisa Dempsey

Hi guys! I was so happy when my sis, Tanya asked me to do a guest post about some of my favorite products, that I'm going to make it short and sweet by giving you my ultimate top two at the moment!

Stila Beauty Balm

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine... The first step to a perfect face should always be protecting it. Start off your day infused with natural, skin-protecting emollients, that look simply radiant on the skin. This is my secret to a flawless look. It's the best BB cream I have found!

Oh, and my new found September swoon?...

Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush  #3

The seamless touch of lovliness. It works on so many different complexions and gives a flushed, romantic color to the cheeks. A must try!

There you have it! A beautiful base to build your makeup look upon! 

Lisa Dempsey Makeup

Happy Monday, friends! I wanted to dedicate this week to all things beauty related, and what better way to kick it off than with a post dedicated to my beautiful sis, professional makeup artist, Lisa Dempsey.

Pictured here, in her element, with her signature makeup look and floppy hat... it's easy to see that this girl has style. 

Not only is she truly beautiful inside and out, but her talent for hair and makeup is off-the-chain. I barely trust anyone else to touch my face when I have an important event. She's that good.

And now that celebs have started to request her personally, I can't help but realize that it was such a gift to have had the opportunity bring her along as my personal makeup artist when I was in the acting game.

Wanna know something even cooler? She's an identical twin, the other half of The Judo Twins, a YouTube channel dedicated completely to my little sisters, both hair and makeup artists, rocking tutorials like no others.

Check out her website lisadempsey.net to see all of the fun stars and events she's worked on recently and stay tuned for a video tutorial, a guest post and even more collaborations with November Grey!

{Photos by Vicky Yanez}

Retro curls with hot rollers

Hi friends! Fan of the retro look? Wavy hair, red lips, all things feminine and girly? Me too! 

I get so many compliments and questions on how to achieve these retro curls when I wear my hair this way, that I thought I'd share! It's all about the hot rollers.

Rollers can actually create so many different styles, depending on how you roll your hair. I often just stick them in randomly all over my head to get a messy, wavy style. (I originally posted about that here.)

But I have found that with some careful placement, and the "direction" you roll the curl, retro is easy! 

• The key is rolling "back" and tight in the front section, winding the ends around the curler completely.   
• Do not remove the rollers until they are completely cooled. 
• Once they are out, run a shine serum through and brush your hair neatly, keeping the curls tight and polished. 
• Finish with a mist of hair spray to set the style.

I use these cheapo hot rollers from Target. They have lasted for years and are perfect for travel too! Good luck! Let me know if you try it! xx

Lighten up

This is very close to my natural hair color... I'm thinking of doing subtle highlights and going au natural for a while. I love having dark hair (remember when I went super dark here and here?) but this may just be in the cards very soon. (I wonder if my stylist will allow it!)

{Image via}

Corioliss Wand Curling Iron Review c/o Misikko!

Hey ladies, have you ever wondered about those clamp-less curling iron wands and how the heck to even use them? Truth be told, I'm a die-hard fan of the ease of hot rollers, and hadn't used a curling iron in ages, let alone the scary clamp-less kind, so when Misikko offered to send me one to give it a whirl, I thought why not?

And what did I get in return? These gorgeous, bouncy, slightly retro waves! And the wand is truly easy to use! It comes with a glove for beginners, but I think you'll be just fine once you get the hang of how it works:

First, use thick sections. You can alternate with some smaller ones, as seen here, but the thicker the section, the more you'll achieve those "waves" instead of curls. Start the twist from root, in the center of the wand and wrap your hair around to the top, leaving a bit of the end undone.

Next, pull down the strand and let the wave fall loose. Give it a tug to pull the weight of it down.

Continue around the rest of your head, touching up loose ends as you go.

I especially love how it almost looks like a finger wave when finished!

 So happy with the results! I think I may have found my new go-to hairstyle!

Thanks, Misikko for a truly awesome curling iron! If you want to order one for yourself - it's on sale here. Now go get gorgeous, girls! xx

Red Lip by Noa Bolozky + Lipstick Giveaway!

This is my girl, Noa B. You may recognize her name and pretty face from our joint blog and vintage redesign project Secondhand Star. But did you know that Noa is also one of the industry's top makeup artists? In fact, we met several years ago when I was acting and she was my makeup artist on a magazine shoot. To say I trust her opinion on beauty products is an understatement.

So I was thrilled when she agreed to do a guest post for November Grey and share her wisdom on creating (one of my signature faves) The Perfect Red Lip! Take it away Noa!


Thanks, T! I think at some point in their lives, every woman wants to try a traditional, red lip. There are a million brands, techniques, and products to choose from. Today's blog? The traditional, 1950's lip for today's modern, wearer.

{Some fun facts}
The 1940's and 50's saw an abundance of red lipsticks, in both orange and blue undertones. Throughout the war years, makeup remained fairly simple, emphasizing powders, groomed brows, long lashes, and a strong lip, (hailed as the "natural look"). Lipstick was the dominant makeup item for a generation of women who needed utility in war time and used a single product to spruce up. 

Here's how to make it work for you:  First, choose your red wisely. I like to stick to blue-based reds as they keep the teeth looking whiter. Some good ones to try are Becca Tatiana, NARS Vesuvio, MAC Russian Red, Elis Faas #103, and L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipcolor in British Red. 

1: Start by exfoliating your lips. I like Philosophy's Kiss Me, exfoliating lip scrub, but a simple once-over with a toothbrush and some sugar water will do in a pinch.

2: Apply a neutral lipliner that matches your own lipcolor. Fill in the whole lip from edge to center.

3: Go for the gusto and apply the tube directly onto the lips--no brushes needed. Fill in all the way over the lip liner to the very edge of your mouth. This ensures that as you eat and drink, the stain of the red mingled with the natural tint of the liner will leave you with a soft, berry color instead of a red, hard outline.

4: Blot with tissue. Reapply lightly and blot again. 

5: Add a soft blush, and keep eyes to a minimum. Red lips say it all, and a heavily made up eye will knock the balance right out of your face. I like to use gold-toned shadow and minimal mascara. For blush, use something soft like NARS Orgasm or Sex Appeal delicately to the apples of the cheeks, as well as a highlighter to brighten below the eyes.

Need a perfect red lip in your life? Noa has recently started her own beauty and fashion blog called Sunset & 5th, chalk-full of tips and tidbits and awesome beauty reviews. Become a follower of her blog Sunset & 5th and be entered to win this full-size tube of one of her favorite, universally flattering reds, MAC Russian Red!

To be eligible for drawing:

1. You must be a follower of November Grey ~ (if you are already a follower, let me know!)
2. Become a follower of Sunset & 5th  then comment back here with your entry! 

Open to international submissions

Contest ends 2/10/12 at 10pm PST

Winner will be drawn randomly & announced by 2/14/12 ~ Valentine's Day xx

Hairdryer Review ~ HANAair c/o Misikko + discount code!

I'm thrilled to partner up with Missiko hair products once again, this time for a hairdryer review! Now if you know me personally, you know that nothing makes me crazier than spending hours in the bathroom. Getting dressed, sure, but when it comes to my hair - the easier, the better.

I LOVE the way my hair looks with a professional blowout, (who doesn't?) but I figured I just didn't have the patience or skill to do it myself. So all too often, my go-to look is a head full of messy curls, or a top-knot bun like this.

After receiving the HANAair professional, what I realized I was really missing was a good blowdryer! I can't even tell you the difference a professional one makes. I mean, how did I actually go all this time without one? Not only does this baby get the job done in no time, it has three different heat settings, which means there's less time spent heating the hair (which causes damage) and also gets me out of the bathroom quick! Here's the result:

Trust me, a good hairdryer really makes a difference. And I highly recommend you give Hana a shot. (They have really great flat irons too! Check out my recent flat iron review here!)

Misikko is offering November Grey readers a special $10 off coupon when you spend $100 or more on any product site wide! Use code NovemberGrey 

Thanks Missiko!