Check out Aspen's cutting-edge "beauty palace" Cos Bar at Target!

I don't know about you, but I am absolutely in LOVE with Target's new "The Shops" theme. My husband and I love checking out local "mom & pop" shops, and now Target does too! Here's their new shop in the beauty department: Cos Bar. They've got really cool, funky packaging so you won't miss it. Some of the products that caught my eye? Well ... the facial cleansing towelettes of course (can't live without wipes), the body butter in "Blueberry White," the body scrub in "Citrus Orange" and their false eyelashes (a pack of 3 for only $9!). Your local Target has it, or just conveniently click the image below. Online shopping is so much easier. Spend $50 and get free shipping when you click this picture below!

 

Summer's hottest hair trends PART II -- Bobby pins, hair scarves & two-tone!

Part II is here my friends! But before we explore more of summer's hottest hair trends, I'd like to invite you to interact -- find me on Twitter @PrettyinPrestige or simply leave a comment on any post to let me know what you like/don't like and what you'd like to see more of. I'd love to hear from you. Now, onto the good stuff.

You've seen bobs, buns & braids (if not, see post below), and now I bring you Part II of summer's hottest hair trends: Bobby pins, hair scarves & two-tone color. 

Add colorful bobby pins to your style for a retro or funky feel. Don't be shy; grab three or four of them and slide them in side-by-side. Pin up a poof in the center of your hair (via Snooki, toned down a bit), or use them to hold hair out of the face with a deep side part. Stick them in just for looks or use them to hold up loose fly-aways. Not only do they add flare to your hair-do, but they're super cheap. Renovate your look with a few bright bobby pins!

 Hair scarves definitely make you stand out. They've got that hippy, boho style and definitely showcase your personality. Tie a bow in front, or tie a knot in the back letting the ends hang down your back. Try using an actual scarf or check out the accessories section at your local Target or WalMart (anywhere really) where you'll find easy to slip-in headbands made to look scarf-like.

Have you noticed stars doing this left and right? Everyone's doing it. It's the two-tone look, like your roots have been growing in and you never bothered to retouch. I'm loving it. It looks cool, yes, but it's a life-saver too if you color your hair. Now you can just let it grow out and say you're trying the new trend! Hello money-saver $$$$.

Bobs, braids, & buns -- oh my! Summer's hottest hair trends

The modern "bob" is just so girly I could faint. I just love them. And there are so many different styles: edgy and frayed, pixi-like and whispy, wavy and longer, etc. etc. etc.! There really is a bob for every personality whether you're a rocker or a housewife, I kid you not. It is the perfect hairstyle to kick off the summer with, and if you have super long hair (like me), then it's a perfect excuse to chop the locks and donate them to Locks of Love. Plus, it'll help keep you cool, get a little breeze on that neck. I've collected some inspiration for you from Pinterest. Hope you find something just right for you: 

Create beachy waves with your bob with these easy steps from Cosmo: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/beauty-blog/how-to-get-beachy-waves

Braids, braids, braids ... where to begin with braids? Any occassion, any style -- just throw in a braid and you're good to go. Effortlessly sexy and and feminine, I have been smitten by the braid. It's my go-to when I'm in a rush. Here's some gorgeous inspiration:

 Leave the braid(s) in overnight with a few spritzes of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Take out in the morning for laid-back waves.

I've been a fan of buns for a long time, from years of ballet classes and plenty of mornings when I didn't have time to dry my hair so I threw the wet hair into a messy bun. They are so simple and take only a few minutes -- and a loose, care-free bun is sizzling hot right now. Being hair lazy and being on trend? I'm definitely OK with this! You like?

 Keep hair soft and touchable with It's a Ten Miracle Leave-in Conditioner.

 Summer lovin, had me a blast...
A change of season is just the right time for a change in personal style. Update your look, tweak it or totally revamp it. Keep an eye out on the Pretty in Prestige blog for summertime hair ideas PART TWO, coming soon!

MAC HEY SAILOR BRONZING POWDER (Refined Golden) -- Hello summertime!

               

Here's an up-close-an-personal for ya! You can see a little bit of the gold; it's very subtle. Adds a healthy glow.

MAC-LOVERS! How cute is the packaging for the Hey Sailor products?! With navy and white nautical stripes and gold writing, what's not to love? The bronzing powder I picked up to kick off summer (Refined Golden) cost me $24, and it comes in a pretty circular compact. I applied using an Eco Tools Bronzing Brush, but if you like a very subtle application of bronzer, try a fan brush.

The shade is a perfect bronze -- not orange, not littered with chunks of glitter. It's got small flecks of gold that add just a hint of luminosity to the face, or should I say, a summer sun-kissed glow. It looks pretty by itself instead of using blush, or you can use it to contour your face, drawing a 3 on each side of your face, letting the brush sweep from the top of your forehead, along the temple, just under the cheek bones and along the jaw. I give this MAC bronzer my kiss of approval for a great summer buy.

Happy Memorial Day! Try a navy smokey eye.

Hope you are all enjoying your Memorial Day! It's been a gorgeous day here in Florida. Most importantly, let's not forget to remember those who have served in our military and lost their lives defending our freedom. Well, on a lighter note, since this is a beauty blog, I'm curious -- what'd you wear for Memorial Day? Breakout the classic Old Navy flag t-shirt? Or did you show a lil American pride via your makeup? I went for a navy smokey eye.

How I did it: Here's your quick navy smokey eye tutorial. There are different ways to create a smokey eye, the classic being: 1) Put the lightest shade all the way up to the brows, 2) Put the medium shade all over the lid, and 3) Blend the darkest shade in the crease and along the outer lash line.

But, I didn't use that classic method today. I went monochromatic. This look is popping up all over the red carpert wtih cobalt and navy blue shades catching eyes and attention.

1. I simply swiped on some eye primer to start, and then used a flathead brush (Urban Decay Shadow Brush) to tap on some navy eye shadow across the whole lid.
2. I used my blender brush and blended the shadow up just a little bit beyond the crease.
3. Then, I wet my flathead brush, dipped it into my navy shadow, and used the wet shadow like eye liner, drawing along my upper and bottom lash lines. I didn't finsh the lines because it can close up the eye. The liner should be thickest toward the outside, end about three-quarters the way in (just my own preference).

Obviously, finish with a fabulous mascara. Try it with a light pink or nude lip!

Bold summer hair: hot streaks of color

OH EM GEE. I'll admit, ever since I saw Avril Lavigne with pink strands back when she came out with her album The Best Damn Thing, I was sold. Pink hair is hot. And it's never been more "in" than it is now.

The first four photos are from Oscar de la Renta's resort 2013 runway show, proving that color streaks aren't just for punks, rebels and teenagers. Color streaks paired with ballet buns flaunt the perfect ratio of class to edgyness.  Beneath those, you'll see Lauren Conrad with her fuscia-dipped pony (paired with gorgeous retro pinup-style makeup) and January Jones with a softer pink hue that makes you wonder if she was born with that color -- so girly, subtle and natural.

If you're looking to try this look but worried about post-dye regrets, there's an easy way to try it: clip-ins. Ulta has them for 10 bucks. This way, you can wear it around for a day and take that color for a commitment-free test drive. Or, try out a wash-out tint (like Streekers $11, or Splat Washables $7). If you love it, head over to the salon! Dark-haired beauties will need to bleach the strand before adding the color. It's the perfect way to show off your confidence this summer. And hey, all ages are doing it. If you're worried about it looking "too young" for your age, look to January Jones for inspiration. Baby pinks and rose golds can add that flare without looking neon. Cosmopolitan magazine had a usefil tip on picking colors: Blondes should go with pink, orange or teal, and brunettes look best in purple, periwinkle and blue. But more importantly, go with a color that's so totally you.

 Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, remember our fallen heroes and thank a vet, and of course ... Stay beautiful from the inside out.

Derma E Fruit Enzyme Facial Scrub!

So I have been doing some research, reading reviews mainly, to try to find a new exfoliant. Requirements: keep skin clear, soft, doesn't leave skin feeling stripped, results noticable. One that's stood out to me is Kate Somerville's Exfolikate. The raving reviews really piqued my interest, until I popped into Sephora and saw the $65 price tag. I'm still interested, and might purchase the $19 trial size eventually, but in the meantime, I thought it'd be better to find a more wallet-friendly alternative.
Enter Derma E! I found the Derma E Fruit Enzyme Facial Scrub in a natural food store called Nutrition S'Mart, but you can also find it at Whole Foods. I think I paid a little over $12, but you can also purchase it online on Vitacost for $9.50.
Like Exfolikate, this exfoliating scrub has fruit enzymes which will help break down those dead skin cells naturally, and the fine polishing beads buff away dead skin and leave it feeling baby smooth! Since I haven't used Exfolikate yet, I can't really tell you if this $12 natural facial scrub is comparable, but it certainly suits what I was looking for.
It's got dead sea salt, which is very therapeutic for a variety of conditions and is known for its healing properties (read more here). The exfoliating beads are small and fine but definitely not wimpy. If you like to feel the scrub really working, you'll enjoy this. It's not harsh though. The bottle says it's gentle enough for daily use. If you've got sensitive or inflammed skin, I'd probably stay away if I were you. However, it's very suitable for most skin types. I'm on the oily side and prone to clogged pores, and occasional breakouts that can include cystic acne and regular ol' zits. However, this would be great for dry skin to refresh it and buff away that dead skin, as well as on aging skin, to  keep it soft and supple. It can be used dry, then rinsed off, or used on a wet face (which I prefer).
Health nuts of the world rejoice -- it's organic, cruelty-free (not tested on animals)/vegan, paraben-free, and eco-friendly. Overall, I'd recommend this facial scrub as it's effective (even after the first use), makes skin look radiant, contains beneficial ingredients like dead sea salt and fruit enzymes, and has an incredible price tag. Oh, and did I mention it smells like a pina colada?!
If interested, here are the ingredients:

Ingredients: Water (aqua), glycerin, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, stearic acid, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, cetyl alcohol, citric acid, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, magnesium oxide (dead sea salt), macrocystis pyrifera (sea kelp) extract, organic chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract*, organic camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract*, organic simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, xanthan gum, prunus armeniaca (apricot) seed powder, stearyl alcohol, organic aloe barbadensis leaf extract*, peg-100 and glyceryl stearate, zea mays (corn) kernel meal, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract, titanium dioxide, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, natural and fragrant oils. *Certified organic by Quality Assurance International, USDA or Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency.