Healthy Hair Growth {Beauty}

{via}

I recently shared some inspiration on my quest in growing out my hair. This isn't the first time I've gotten the idea of growing my hair long. I've tried at least twice in the last three years and prior attempts would always end a mere 3 months in. This time I was determined to succeed and therefore knew I needed some help. Along the way I discovered some important products and fresh routines in order to keep my hair healthy between trims. I'm now about 7 months in and about to book my first maintenance trim for mid July.

My comb has been a go to tool for keeping my longer hair tangle free. Combing is a lot gentler and has been keeping my split ends and breakage at bay. 

Moroccanoil is by far the most important product I've been using to keep my hair hydrated. I have extremely dry hair {due to the fact that I was washing my hair daily} this product keeps my hair shiny and moisturized all day. In order to keep my hair from drying out I recently started washing it every other day. It has made a huge difference in the quality of my locks. 

Now lets talk shampoos and conditioners. I feel in love with the quality and most importantly the scents of these Lush products. The sea salt shampoo is more of a clarifying shampoo so if you have a dry scalp make sure to only sure it once to twice a week.

Thanks for reading, 

L

Long Hair Inspiration {Beauty}

I began growing my hair out at the end of last fall - around the middle of November to be exact. I've consistently been a 'short hair girl' so inspiration to not book an appointment to chop it all off has been key. I thought I would share some pretty long hair inspiration that has kept me on track thus far. I think I'm most looking forward to throwing my hair up in a high pony or bun using nothing but a hair tie! In the mean time I've been curling my hair to give it a bit more life. More to come on the products I swear by and how I have been keeping my hair healthy while resisting the urge to go in for a trim. Have a great Wednesday!

{images via} 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

Thanks for reading, 

L

Jamberry {Beauty}

Happy Wednesday Friends!

 I'm excited to finally be sharing about my Jamberry experience. I was introduced to the product through Tess Robert who is a consultant for the brand. As someone who follows A&L she knew I would thoroughly enjoy the product and she was gracious enough to send me a few to sample. I received an assortment of patterns but was instantly drawn to the floral design. I love how creative you can be with Jamberry - I stuck with a classic look and paired the floral design to just one of my nails as an accent. Although, I stuck with an accent nail Jamberry can easily be applied to all of your nails! The possibility are endless and the options for designs are vast! Application was a breeze and the best part... no waiting for your nails to dry!

If you are interested in connecting with Tessa to learn more about Jamberry you can connect with her here.

Thanks for reading, 

L

My Favorite Lip Colors

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! It has been so cold here in MN, so we are looking forward to the slight warm up over the weekend. Finding a lip color that you love and that looks good on your skin tone is a difficult task. So I am excited to share my tried and true favorites. After years of trying different colors, shades, brands, lipsticks vs. glosses...I finally feel like I've found the perfect coral, hot pink, everyday, light pink/natural, and red looks. The great thing about investing in high quality lip colors is they last forever, look beautiful on, and don't dry out your lips (this is especially important with lipsticks). Have a blessed day everyone! 

{Coral Lip}

NARS Lodhi Satin Lip Pencil // NARS Paris Follies 'Larger than Life' Lip Gloss

{Hot Pink Lip}

NARS Schiap Lipstick // I usually pair this with Aveda's Lip Saver (favorite chapstick ever)

{Everyday Lip}

Sisley Paris 'Phyto-Lip Twist' (A new favorite; I can't get enough of it and use it all the time. Bonus, it lasts forever)

{Red Lip}

NARS Jungle Red Lipstick // Giorgio Armani 'Flash' Lip Lacquer Rouge 400

{Light Pink/Natural Lip}

NARS Dolce Vita // Chanel Glossimer 94

With Love,

A

Beauty Basics Monthly {Beauty}

 

I recently started using a cream blush and I will never go back to powder. I love the way Make Up For Ever creates a dewy rosiness that just cannot be achieved with a powder. I use 210 - cool pink but cannot wait to try another color, maybe 410 - coral will be next. 

Lancome defincils is by far the best mascara I have ever used! Although, it's a bit pricey its totally worth it. It never clumps and is easy to remove at the end of the day. Make sure to check out Nordstrom's mascara sale, buy 2 get 1 free! It's an incredible promotion and only happens twice a year. So mark your calendars the next sale happens the end of May{one day only}.

Yes, you read that right- Whole Foods is where I purchase my body lotion. I became obsessed with lavender after a trip to a lavender farm and wanted to incorporate the scent into my daily routine. I accidentally came across this lotion while browsing the healthcare section and was blown away by the price tag {around $6 if you can score it on sale}. I decided to give it a try and have been using it ever since. It's a light weight lotion and is perfect for everyday use. {Only sold in store- I promise it's worth a trip}

Thanks for reading, 

L

Skincare Routine

I am so excited to be sharing my skincare routine with you all today. Ever since I was little my mom has always instilled in me a diligence in taking care of my skin, and using quality products. My mom has beautiful, young looking skin which is partly due to genes, but is mostly because she has always taken amazing care of her skin, going above and beyond to clean, nourish, and protect it. She advocates for being proactive now so problems don't come as quickly, or not at all, down the road. Here is my daily skin care routine and please know that the products I use last a very long time because the formulas are so concentrated, and I believe are worth every penny!

Morning Skincare Routine: 

After I get out of the shower I use Origin's Precipitation moisturizer on my whole body. I would be lost without this during these dry winter months in MN. After, I splash my face with cool water and pat dry which instantly makes me feel awake and alert. Then I use tonic from La Mer on a cotton ball. I lather on my Chanel moisturizer and let dry before applying Laura Mercier's foundation primer (I never knew this was necessary, but my make-up lasts all day with it on and it adds an extra glow to my skin). 

Two to three times a week I exfoliate using La Mer's refining facial, which cleanses my pores and makes my face glow. This is a newer addition to my regime, but I have learned that exfoliating is key!

Evening Skincare Routine: 

I thoroughly wash my face using La Mer's cleansing foam and my trusted Clarisonic. I finish by applying my Chanel moisturizer again. Bobbi Brown's eye cream and Estee Lauder's night serum are on my wish list - both items are extremely important and now that I am in my mid-20s are items I need to start using. 

:: Shop the Post :: 

La Mer 'The Cleansing Foam' // La Mer 'The Refining Facial' // La Mer 'The Tonic' // Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme // Clarisonic Mia // Origins Precipitation Body Lotion // Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

With Love,

A

Photos by Preston Anderson

Eyebrows 101 {Beauty}

 I must confess, I use to completely over pluck my eyebrows, it was a bad habit I developed and could never seen to kick. It wasn't until visiting an honest esthetician that I came to discover the truth about my brows. I will never forget laying down with the esthetician magnifying my face with her bright light and vocally saying huh, oh, hmm... I finally asked if everything was alright. She carefully explained that my brows needed to be fuller and drew with a pencil the correct proportions. It was amazing how drastically re-shaping my brows helped frame my face better. I was immediately ready to do anything it took to get them in tip top shape.

The processes was slow, I grew my brows out for a month in a half before returning to the same esthetician. She promptly commented that she didn't think I would be back. She again worked her magic and after the appointment introduced me to brow powder. This small beauty product instantly changed everything! 

I fell in love with Damone Roberts line, the dual ended brush makes it easy to apply and even easier to blend together. I believe that using a brow powder creates an instantly polished look. If you are looking to add a new product to your beauty line up I highly recommend giving a brow powder a try.

{To see even more pictures of my very skinny and unshapely brows feel free to look at my past FB pics} 

Thanks for reading, 

L

Photo's by Brendan & Laura Lorentz

Valentine's Day Nails {Beauty}

Happy Valentine's Day. I am a complete sucker for V Day! I love everything hearts, cookies, candies, cards, flowers, tea parties...the list could go on. My love for Valentine's Day comes from my mom, who absolutely loves this holiday as well. Growing up she would shower us with gifts, baked goods, and sweet cards, showing her precious love to us. These traditions continue today and I am just as in "love" with Valentine's Day as when I was eight years old. 

I wanted to post a fun, easy way to get in the Valentine spirit. I hope you enjoy and feel inspired to embrace Valentine's Day (please excuse my extra dry cuticles from this crazy cold winter).  

Step 1: Choose a light pink, hot pink, and red color. I chose O.P.I. Kiss Me On My Tulips, Deborah Lippmann Before He Cheats, and Essie Snap Happy.

Step 2: Paint all of your nails in two to three coats of the light pink polish. 

Step 3: Using your hot pink polish, very carefully brush off the majority of the paint from the brush. In light easy strokes, create two hearts on your ring finger and your pinky finger. 

Step 4: On your ring finger, add an additional heart using your red polish. 

: : Shop the Post: 

O.P.I. Kiss Me On My Tulips, Deborah Lippmann Before He Cheats, and Essie Snap Happy.

With Love,

A

Photos by Preston Anderson