A little skin secret

  Just a quick little blog post about a skin lifesaver. I was lucky enough to be blessed with never really having any skin issues, I’m not oily, not dry, never really had a skin regimen till recently. Up until a year ago I’d put a little dove soap on a washcloth, wipe and call it a day. 

However, when I do happen to get a “bump” as I like to call it ; ) it’s normally in all the areas that they say are stress related and it HAS to of course be a underground bump that wants to stick around for a week and be huge (I think the correct term is a cystic bump). These neverrrrr come to a head, you try to mess with it, and of course you can’t so it just ends up more irritated and there to stay for even longer! 

A few weeks ago one popped up and I did a little research…. I had a date and of COURSE this thing had to be there 2 days before, this was notttt going to work for me. I put a dab directly to the spot every night after I washed my face and applied my toner. After just two days it was barely there! Every morning the swelling, redness & tenderness was reduced by a billion! Apparently Vicks has a ingredient in it that fights bacteria, and an is an anti-inflammatory. The Vicks almost works like tooth paste but way better, drying out the area faster. Thus making your life 100x better, duh! 

XoXo | Chelsey Rae

Volume city & Shu Uemura

Hello dolls, it’s been a minute! I’ve been a traveling machine so I haven’t really found the time to blog. Today I’m talking about how I got this volumeneous look, with instruction. This is a long one, but first…

Last month my fabulous salon picked up the line I was raving about! I wanted to get my hands familiar with some product before I talked about it! Those of you who see me in salon know I’m not one to sell you things you don’t need! I’ve really fallen in love with these products I’m about to tell you about but first I’ll give a little back ground. 

This line by no means cancels out kérastase but it is a whole other ball game. Mr. Shu created his line sorta based off of the way we apply make-up because that’s actually how he got started (you can google his background if you care enough to know the whole deal but really all that strikes my interest is that he did Marilyn Monroes make-up. #winner. End story.) He believes in building the product on the hair to create what your looking for, I.E. We apply primer before our foundation. It’s the same way he set up his line.

Here’s the products I’ve got down pat and what I’ve been using every time I wash my hair. YES, I’m putting all this in my hair and YES, that’s why the results are what they are. Of course, it’s a for sureee blessing to have all this product at my disposal but like I always say if you have the same tools you can accomplish the same thing. Let’s roll before I bore you…. 

  
Depsea Foundation is step one, sprayed a few inches away from the head. This is your primer for the next products you plan to layer on. I love this because it is super hydrating and it brings out the natural texture in your hair as well. 

  
Wonder Worker  this stuff is fabulous, hints the name. Spray a few inches away from hair as well. Works if you plan to blow dry or air dry. It detangles, tames frizz, boosts radiance, and hydrates. Let’s be honest my hair has never looked this shiney people.  

Ultimate remedy extreme restoration duo-serum I know, whoa to the name. However, that’s exactly what a blonde needs! This stuff not only smells like a blessing but it freakinnnngggg isssss! I can’t get enough of this whole ultimate remedy line, but I’ve already posted about that. This product comes out in two, ones a serum and ones a cream. Mix together and apply midshaft to ends. It keeps the hair fiber closed and helps protect the hair from our daily routine. My #1 on this list.   Ample angora my favorite mouse (next to kérastase’s densimophose) it provides lift and body directly at the root. The tip of this bottle is designed to be put directly on the scalp. I apply by drawing 3 lines from front to back and massaging with fingertips.  

 
Volume maker this product is the most amazing thing ever (I know I say that all the time, but I mean it!) we all know I love a head of high hair! This is applied on DRY hair, it is a volumizar obviously and it doubles as a dry shampoo, absorbing excess oils and leaving your hair with a matte finish! You pump the top of this guy and apply to the rounds of your head. The powder that comes out of the top of the brush sticks to the scalp, creating amazing texture and lifting the hair strand. Not too much texture, just enough and doesn’t leave hair feeling goopy! I’m not kidding, the best volume powder I’ve ever tried!

So after all hair is dried and product is applyed you get into styling…..I like to work in quadrants of four when I’m working with the head. Two in back and one on each side, then break those down into four. See my amazing diagram below and work with that best as you can!

we all know my curls are done with a flatiron but sometimes I do this on myself with a 1/2 inch curling iron as well. Curl, release and spray a tad of hairspray letting the curls cool before you break them up as you go through the whole head. I normally let cool the whole time I apply my make-up and then take a SOFT BRISTLE brush through my hair. For volume I take a small tooth comb and tease the whole top of my head. You smooth that over lightly again with a soft bristle brush only, on top! Spray and go through touching up random little pieces to leave the hair looking tousled. 

Video will come soon I swearrrrr!

 XoXo | Chelsey Rae

The comfiest shorts I ever did sleep in… 

How cuteeee are these?!? I am so
obsessed with them that I had to share with everyone! I found these baby’s on my trip to seaside and once I slept in them I was sold! I have ordered probably every color since! 

 

My sleeping wardrobe has for sure decreased more and more as the years have gone on, these days I’m liking a comfy pair of shorts and a good ol bra – I have no idea how I used to sleep in pajama pants 10 years ago! I hate being all tangled in clothes and hot!!! 

Anyway these shorts are made by a company called Southern Marsh and it’s their  Chandler Lounge Short they are the lightest things ever and have a bunch of cute colors! They don’t get tangly while you sleep and the waist band is 100% the softest thing I’ve ever felt in my life, yall know I tend to be dramatic but this is so for real! 

 

What southern sista wouldn’t want to sleep with cute little duckies on her shorts anyway?! 

XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

Beachin it, high-waisted style!

Hello August! It’s my birthday month & beach month in my family’s book! A.K.A the best month ever (after October). I’ve been in seaside all this week and I’m loving this little number I’m rocking today! This post is shortttt & sweet so let’s get to the point – 

 
I’ve been a fan of the high-waisted thing since it started and let me tell you, I’ve done my fare share of shopping around!  American Apparel has the bestttt, most flattering in my opinion! I find, to wear this and have it not make you look wide, it needs to hit you at the perfect spot! It’s no secret I’m busty, so it’s always Victoria’s Secret for the win on my bathingsuit tops! My hair tie is American Apparel  as well, one of my girls at work introduced me to their line of these and they are fab!!! They actually have a little wire in them, so they tighten real well and you can shape them how you like! The cat eye glasses are from LuLus and they obviously go great with the whole 50s vibe going on! 

Happy high-waist shopping dolls!

XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

Parmasan Roasted Cauliflower

okay, now y’all know when I do recipes that y’all have to bear with me! This time, to save you guys the texting, calling and emailing, I kinda tried to give messurments! Honestly though, everything I cook I just put a little of this a little of that, whatever I’m feeling that day! To me it’s always yummier if you make it your own anyway ; p 
This recipie is super easy and isn’t so bad for you! It’s QUICK, which is my kinda thing and requires barely any clean up! #winning. No salt is used, but parmasan is and that gives it enough of a salty taste but that’s my preference. Sometimes I’ll cook this up and eat it for dinner by itself. Cauliflower to me is such a meaty vegetable when cooked the right way and not made all smushy! I normally get going on this the night before and let it sit in the fridge till the next day that way it really sucks up all the flavors and all I have to do is pop it in the oven when I get home from work. 

  

You are going to need a large head of cauliflower, rinse of course, then cut off the nasty bottom & leaves. Then cut it into 4s, as you see in the picture above, and pull off the florets. Make it random- big ones & little ones (the little ones get all crunchie and those are the best).

Then put it all in a big ziploc and pour everything into it – a little less then a 1/4 cup EVOO  that has about 1 tsb minced garlic mashed into it (literally I take freshly minced garlic, put into the olive oil and mash it with a small spoon). 1/4 cup 100% grated parmasan cheese. And then any seasonings you’d like, I go for a little salt free Tony Chachere’s, Mrs. Dash onion and herb seasoning, and tons of cracked pepper. (This is where you make it your own so throw whatever else you think will taste good in there! In this particular batch I sprinkled just the smallest amount of Italian bread crumbs and it ended up being fab) when your done give the ziploc bag a serious Shake, I move it all around and make sure everything gets coated. Then if you have the time refrigerate over night or go straight into cooking!

 

The oven needs to be preheated to 400 degrees on ROAST. Take out a baking pan, lay out some parchment paper and evenly distribute the contents of the ziploc bag. You want to make sure none of it’s really on top of each other. Place in oven anywhere between 20-25 minutes depending on how much browning you’d like. Some people like to flip half way through but I’m not a fan because I like how the bottoms get a little crunchier when you don’t flip. THE END! So easy, and so yummy! 

 

XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

First Hair Tutorial | Braid into Up-do

Okay sooo yet again, I have no clue what I’m doing. This is my first and very short braid turned into a up-do tutorial. ITS SUPER EASY. The videos fast but you can get the gist. I’m attempting to get used to this so I can eventually do my promised “Chelsey curls” tutorial, so we may be well on our way! Again I don’t claim to be some major blogger, so just roll with it!

Braids are such a good way to cheat at fixing your hair! Being in the beauty industry I always have to look put together at work, but sometimes it’s just a crapy morning and you don’t feel like it! Take two seconds to do a braid and ta-daaaa you look like you actually cared (haha! Just keeping it real people). 

On the upside of being lazy, they are your best friend when your going somewhere fancy, being that they are easily turned into a up-do! I can’t tell you how many of my girls have weddings and stuff to go to and can’t get in with me, so in turn want to know a quick easy way to throw their hair up! Braids are the answer and the only way you won’t be super frustrated throwing your brush at the mirror! We’ve all been there…. Even me! 

 
So here’s the deets on both looks & of course you always start with a head of tease hair!

I don’t know about some of you guys, but #1) I pay for my hair, ha! And #2) jokes on me cause it’s still looks super thin in a braid! Ever wonder how all those chicks on pintrest get those super thick looking braids? You braid your hair like normal, go in and rough it up a little, pull on the loops and stretch them out. For even more, pinch where the pony tail is and holding the bottom of your hair, hold tightly and push the pony up, this brings it all together to look even fuller. Sometimes if the hair is too long that I pulled with, and some of you you may see what I’m talking about when you try at home, I’ll take that and loop it around the pony and secure inside the braid with a bobby pin. Of course this is just an unnecessary extra step but makes it look a little more fancy!

If your looking to turn this into a Up-Do all I really do is take my braid and basically roll it up (like in the picture below), starting from the pony tail into where your braid started.  Secure with bobby pins and pull some strands in the front of your face down to make it look effortless!! You could even try this with two braids on each side rolled up to meet in the middle, there are so many options!

  

I think the problem with most people when they go to fix their hair is they over think it, this is hair- it’s not going to be perfect, every strand shouldn’t be in order and personally in my opinion that just looks so boring, trust me no ones ever wondered where mrs. Perfectly pin straight not a hair out of place is going, they are all too busy wondering where the chick with the sexy messed up hair has been! It’s so true, You can’t even deny it!

XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

The BEST Brow Gel

I recently started using this and I am OBSESSED (I know I’m obsessed with everything). Anastasia Beverly Hills has amazing brow products, nothing I’ve tried yet has let me down! Sooo tonight, I’m blogging about their CLEAR BROW GEL – which runs about $22 at sephora. 

  
To be honest my brows SUCK. They are just kinda there…never had too good of a shape and they aren’t super thick. This gel is obviously for all colors since it’s clear and you apply after you fill in your brow with your pencil of choice. It sets your brows in place and literally holds them there, allllll day! I kid you not, I’m super guilty of falling asleep with my make-up on and when I wake up my brows are still perfect lol! 

What I love about this too is that the coating it gives my brows makes them feel thicker, gives them a little extra! It doesn’t flake or get super hard like some brow gels, and it doesn’t end up taking off any of the brow pencil I’ve previously applied. 

I personally use this under my Anastasia Beverly Hills BROW WIZ pencil, In Caramel. $21 
XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

Good ole keds

With the forth of July coming up I figured why not blog about the classic all American sneaker. I am such a sucker for a good pair of keds! So lame I know – but I love them! They are perfect for my typical everyday summer attire, (a pair of Jean shorts and a v-neck) for a super casual look when you want more then a sandal or flip flop. The different colors can just add something extra and not make the outfit so boring ; ) How cute are these leopard ones I got off of HauteLook? These exact ones are discontinued but I rounded up a few of my other favorites below, (mint green is such a color of the moment, polka-dots are always fun, yellow is my favorite, and cutouts in anything are super in right now) of course you can never go wrong with the classic white. (Even though they get dirty as hell!) All of these can be found on the Keds website (they rang about $39-$55) and I always check them out when they are on HauteLook because helllllllooo, they are cheaper and sometimes have things that you can’t find on the website anymore! 

XoXo | Chelsey Rae

Tonight’s shampoo line up!

Despite all of us in shock that I’m actually washing my hair, loll…. These are my 3 new things I’m loving!   The first one is probably the most pointless thing ever, but I’m obsessed with it because I’m the type of girl that loves to pick the most expensive thing on the shelf and roll with it!!! Now Yall know this is a honest blog, so really this is more of a want then a need. It’s kerastases new pre shampoo called “The Gommage” it smells freaking amazinggggg number one and number two it’s fabulous for people like me who shampoo once or twice a week (because we see the value in a little roughed up hair of course!). This was actually inspired by skincare, it’s almost like a scrub, but for your scalp. You put a smidge in your hands, emulsify it, and add it to dampened hair, scrub like you would a shampoo, then rinse and shampoo/condition with your usual line up. This stuff Runs about $44. 

The other two beauty’s in the green are literally something I am dying over, this stuff has changed my life – I know I tend to be super dramatic, but this is for real. Changed. My. Life. Or should we say my hair! This is a new line I am just recently getting to know. The name is “Shu Uemura” (it’s kerastase’s sister line, basically).  H2O is thinking about picking up this line in the next few months and my vote for that was 100x YES. 

The green is their “Ultimate Remedy” line, and it does exactly what it says, considering it’s for “ultra-damaged hair”! After I wash my hair with this it feels like no other product has ever made it feel before. All my blondes, or anyone with damaged hair for that matter, know how our hair gets a little crunchy in the places we use our hot-tools the most, but with this my hair feels silky smooth, soft and HEALTHY. Amen to this stuff! The only problem is, this line is more expensive then kerastase, but at the end of the day, this is our hair. It’s on our head, and we need to take care of it. Yall know how I feel about that. 

Even if H2O decides to not pick up this line, I am sold on it, and will be using this before kerastase, if we are speaking on terms of a product best for my hair and my blondes. (Never thought those words would come out of my mouth) 

Happy hair washing people

XoXo | Chelsey Rae 

Distressed boyfriend Jean..

 

I’m totally Loving this look, not to mention how comfy these things are! They are so easy to throw on, on a random day running errands, or they look awesome with a cute pair of heels too to dress them up!  Mine in the picture are from Luxy, a boutique on magazine about a month ago (so I doubt they still have them). They are by the brand “sneak peek” but I haven’t been able to find them anywhere else. 

Here’s some cute ones that are up to par though ; ) 

  

1- These are so cute, and I love that they are pink! Perfect with a white shirt and some heels. From LuLus online and they are $83.

2- These are from Urban outfitters and they are $79. 

3- A little bit of a lighter wash jean. These are from good ole Forever 21 they are $28.

4- Love these! They are the brand “Blank NYC” (which is one of my favorites) and I found them at Nordstrom online $59. 

XoXo, Chelsey Rae