A Working Girl's Guide to Not Looking Like Shit: Josie Maran Argan Oil

via Sephora

Sometimes the key to looking good is all about getting to a point where you don’t feel the need to wear as much makeup. Isn’t that the end goal anyways? Nobody wants to keep up the “zit spackling routine” they developed in high school, and since we’re evolving our habits should too, right?

 So apart from the obvious requirements of actually washing your face before bed and taking your iron supplements, you can add one more non-committal step to your daily routine: Josie Maran Argan Oil. Beauty oil has been the talk of the town for some time now, and the cool thing about it is you can use the product literally anywhere you want. Why the eff have we been buying lotion SPECIFICALLY for our face when we could’ve been buying oil and putting it EVERYWHERE. Your face! Your nails! Your hair! Argan oil’s multi-purpose applications are truly a dream. I’ve also started to notice a big difference in how I look sans make-up, way more fresh faced in the mornings, which means I can take it easy on the foundation. Once applied, argan oil doesn't feel greasy in the least bit. It's actually known for it's anti-aging properties. If you need more proof, just look at Josie Maran's face (HANDSOME!).

Of course, the only issue here is price. A small .5 oz bottle will come up to $14, which is fine because you are just trying it out, and you’re too young to commit. Unfortunately, if you find yourself falling in love with the product and want to bulk barn it, going up a scale in size to the 1.7 oz comes up to $48. Major bleh, but thank goodness for Sephora travel size samples.

By Navi Lamba

Did you miss Navi's last Working Girl's Guide? Do not fear—you can read it here.

Hair DIY: Alice Dellal-inspired hair

I frequently lament having boring hair. It's blonde, it's generally all one length, and it just kind of sits there—after years of mistreatment, I'm too attached to it to make the plunge into any kind of coveted edgy style. I'm always playing around with ways to make my hair look a little different day-to-day. Enter Alice Dellal. I've been drooling over her hair since she came into my consciousness—the colour, the waves, the shaved side—and I wanted to share a way to imitate her look without fully taking the plunge. So here is my first solo video hair tutorial! (What, you think I'd let Amanda have all the fun?)

You'll need:

bobby pins
comb, for teasing
hairspray

To make this style last you should use a strong hold hairspray—it'll keep your inevitable side-frizzies away. You can also mess up the fuller side of your hair by scrunching it up with your hands and adding some more hairspray to the bulk. The messier the better. Alternatively, you can give yourself generous waves with a flat iron and a good faux-finger waves tutorial. 

Pair this style with heavily lined eyes, and a dark lip, and you'll have the look down pat. 

Beauty tutorials

I love watching videos of people telling me how to do simple, everyday things that I should already know how to do. And I do this exactly for the same reason that I am an obsessive Googler, write down everything Penelope Trunk says, and save every tumblr post that lists ways to be creative, get out of a bad mood, accomplish your goals, or get the perfect wardrobe staples—because it's so much easier to follow someone else's tried and true advice and instructions than thinking it through for myself. Sound a bit pathetic? Maybe, but I like getting advice from people who are really passionate, and it in turn inspires me to live better, and sometimes to give my own advice.

Anyway, here are some of my current favourite beauty and makeup videos. If you have any that you love, please let me know!

The Persian Babe:

Hey Kayli:

Loepsie:

BEAUTYetc:

Cut by Fred:

The Take Home Series:

All Up in My Business

I know I've not been around much. But seriously, with a packed work schedule, unbelievably beautiful weather (double digits!) and a time change that's had my days starting in slow-mo, you're lucky to have caught me at all. I haven't been browsing the web much, but what I have been doing is practical – I have a question, I need an answer. Questions like...

What should I eat for dinner?

This Flank Steak and Arugula Salad from Martha Stewart, duh. This was pretty easy and also crazy delicious. The idea of using salsa as a salad dressing base is pretty genius too, Martha. Oh boy, let the season of salads begin!

I also made a pretty delicious roasted beet, wilted beet greens and goat cheese salad this weekend but, as per usual, forgot to take photos because I was too busy chowing down. I promise, I'll do that recipe up proper and soon – I'll definitely be making it again. Until then, this version with oranges looks pretty delicious.

via Dinner with Julie

This simple tomato soup recipe on 101 Cookbooks has also been calling my name. Coconut milk, a poached egg and fried paneer? Count me in.

via 101 Cookbooks

What should I wear?

Right now, I'm wishing for ankle-grazing long flowy dresses, but worn without sweaters, so warm though it may be I'll just have to wait a bit longer.

I'm obsessed with this dress from Tarantula Sisters and it still hasn't been bought. It's calling my name, I swear it.

This one, also from those sisters Tarantula, is also pretty rad, but it's sold, THANK GOD.

How babely is this girl on Street Peeper's blowout?

This Karen Walker model's hair and makeup look are pretty much a platonic ideal. F/W 2012? Try right this fucking minute.

Oh, and today I doubled up on leopard print without knowing. It's days like this I think, how many babies been made offa me, you know?

That's Revlon's Copper Penny, American Apparel's Summer Peach and a random art brush black.

As always, my Pinterest is where it's at.

Ask a Hairdresser: Winter vs Summer Styling, Growing Out, and Going Organic

We Burgundy Girls love playing with our locks, but are often a little lost on how to baby them. Enter Jamie Furie to the rescue. She works at Shampoo Hair Studio in Toronto's Kensington Market, and is our go-to guru on all things hair related. She's offered to very generously answer our questions – and not only that, but she'll answer yours too. So, if you've always been wondering how tame your mane, now's the time to ask.

Should I change anything in my hair routine when the seasons change? What are some things I should do for my hair in the winter versus the summer?

via Free People

Yes! It's important to remember that as the elements change, so must your hair routine. In the summer, I like letting hair dry naturally, so I don't recommend using stiff or sticky products like gel or mousse. Exposure to sun/wind/saltwater can lighten hair and dry it out, so using a protectant product is key. I tend towards oily products on the ends of your hair and a light smoothing balm all over, to prevent frizziness and maintain natural texture. A sea salt spray works wonders on naturally wavy hair, but as it can be drying, a great conditioner is a must. In the summer, use conditioner for colored hair (even if your colour is natural) as it locks in moisture without making hair feel greasy. The sun is a natural lightener, which will make your ends feel dry and split if you don't do some preemptive damage control.

Winter is a whole new ball game! I find my clients blowdry a lot more often (because Canadian winters plus wet hair equals mega badness). The plus side to this is that a nice blowdry means you can go a few extra days between washings and you don't have to worry about humidity ruining your 'do. I like to use mousse in dryer climates, like Alberta, where static becomes an issue in the winter, but in a damp, windy place like Toronto, a light gel will give you volume, retain shape, and protect your hair from the heat of a blowdryer. Keep in mind things like dry winter wind, touques, and wool scarves can cause a lot of dryness and breakage, not to mention mini dreadlocks at the nape of the neck. This is the time of year when you should start doing mini treatments on yourself: comb conditioner through damp hair, wrap it in plastic and let it sit for half an hour. The plastic will retain heat and allow your cuticles to open up and accept more of the conditioning molecules, then, as it cools, they clamp shut, locking in conditioner and leaving your hair smooth and shiny.

originally via We The People

Does cutting your hair regularly help it grow?

I get asked this question on a daily basis and my response is yes and no. Obviously, cuts take away length but if you've decided you want a mane of long, healthy hair, it is imperative that you trim off those dry, dead split ends. When you brush your hair, the dry ends will break off, meaning instead of the 1/4 inch splits that can be trimmed off every few months, you can lose an inch or more, depending on where your hair gets caught in the brush. It can make the already lengthy grow-out process way longer than it has to be. Hair typically grows at a rate of a 1/2 inch per month, so just think: in a six month span with two 1/4 inch trims, your hair will have grown 2 1/2 inches, while in six months without a trim, your hair will have grown 3 inches but have broken off an inch and a half or more, leaving you with just 1 1/2 inches of growth. And don't forget how much easier it is to style when splits are a non-issue.









I keep hearing about natural hair products being better for your hair. However, I often find they leave my hair feeling dry. Could you explain why this is and how I can keep my hair feeling as healthy as it does when I use non-natural products?

via Pinterest

I really want to like organic products. I love the idea of using something "natural". However, I have yet to find a product line that works well. I'm going to lay some science on you: a shampoo molecule has two parts to it, a hydrophilic end and a lipophillic end. The lipophillic end, which is usually some sort of sulphide, attaches itself to oil and dirt on your scalp and follicles, and the hydrophilic end (combined with the kinetic energy of water running downwards) actually pulls the oil off your hair and down the drain. The problem with products that don't include sulphides (like most organics) is that they can leave a waxy residue behind, which can cause dryness and breakage, leave the hair feeling dull, and make it tricky to style. 

If you decide to use organic products, I would strongly recommend doing a clarifying treatment every other week. Use a clarifying shampoo (something with rosemary or mint would be an ideal choice), put it on dry hair, and let sit for 5 minutes before you hop in the shower. This will help strip that residue off before before your hair has a chance to get damaged.

Ask Jamie your hair questions at heyburgundygirls [at] gmail.com

For more of my favourite hair images, check out my Pinterest board

5 Beauty Products We Can't Live Without

Laura Kathleen's beauty faves:

via makeupforever

1. I'll wash my face with anything (handoffs from work or friends, Luxe Box samples, oil and water, Ivory bar soap) but I won't leave the house without tinted moisturizer (with SPF 15, totally essential). I've been wearing the lightest shade from Boots (at Shoppers) for years now. It's never let me down. And I'm lucky—this and some powder is all the coverage I need.

via greenbeautyguide

2. MoroccanOil is probably the priciest beauty product I own, but seriously, once you try it you can never go back. There are surely cheaper alternatives—I haven't tried them, and I'm okay with that. I used to use coconut oil on my hair (after some great advise from my fave Youtube hair sensation Loepsie) but I am addicted to the smell of MoroccanOil and I'll never give it up, ever. You can buy it for me though.

via sephora

3. Tarte blush. I've got it in "Blushing Bride" and it smells like raspberry-flavoured Crystal Lite. I've tried the rest, this is the best. And I don't care how gross this makes me sound, but I've been using the same stick for like 4 years. Whatever, this stuff never goes bad.

via shutterstock

4. Black eyeliner and mascara is like an everyday, no matter what kind of thing. I'm blonde, with really light lashes and brows, so if I don't wear something dark around my eyes I can look washed out. I rarely take off my eye makeup at night (tsk tsk! seriously, it's so bad) so I'm usually racoon-eyed in the morning. If I'm trying to dress it up I'll use liquid liner, otherwise any pencil will do. Same with mascara: the blacker the better, but I'll use whatever's around.

via temptalia

5. They'll often be chipped, but I don't remember the last time that I wasn't wearing some kind of nail polish. It started when I was a kid—a woman who worked with my mom used to wear different shades of Hard Candy nail polish everyday (remember those jelly rings?) and would hand them down to me when they were close to empty. I was hooked. I rarely do any fun designs, that is totally Amanda's forte, and I usually rotate my favourite colours of the moment—which right now is Chanel's "Peridot," American Apparel's "Mount Royal," and Essie's "Lady Godiva."

Amanda's beauty faves:

via kimwhite

1. Rose water. My new holy grail. I use it daily to wipe off the flakes from yesterday's mascara (oops), and just give my face a gentle wake up. It makes my skin feel baby soft, plus I can imagine it'll be really refreshing once the weather warms up. Rose water 4 life, homes.

via sephora

2. Conceal FX in X-light. I recently bought this for about $30 at Shoppers Drug Mart, and I love it. I just use it under my eyes and on any redness I'm sporting. It builds up sheer levels of coverage and actually sets, unlike Benefit's Erase Paste, which I was using before. I also really like that you get squeeze out a little product at a time, rather than dip your finger in a pot—way more hygienic. The cosmetician who helps me find it said it was developed in the Sunnybrook Burn Care unit, and I was going to make a joke about this stuff being on fire, but that would be in pretty poor taste so I held myself back (you're welcome).

via savvymom

3. Glysomed hand cream. It's so soft and absorbs quickly, and makes my hands feel like I'm wearing velvet gloves. It's very protecting, but not in a gross way, and was developed for sensitive skin. It comes in little bottles too, which is very convenient for purses. I usually use fragrance free, but the fragranced version isn't bad, so try that too.

via hairboutique

4. OPI Nail Envy. I've been using this stuff since May, and I have to say it's worth the $30. I use this as my base coat each time I paint my nails. It's a magical nail bandaid, and stops my nails from splitting or peeling.

via parfumslolitapicka

5.  L de Lolita Lempicka. I love this scent SO MUCH. It smells like grown-up cupcakes with spicy vanilla, bergamot, and bitter orange notes. Supposedly the scent is based on a mermaid, but it is very warm and gourmand, and not aquatic at all. The packaging and branding seem very misleading in this sense, but they're pretty, so I don't mind. I recently started wearing the embarrassingly named Loverdose, but every now and then, I have to wear L and it feels like coming home.

What are your beauty favourites? Any of ours on your list?

Hair DIY: A Simple Roll

Hey gang! It's the middle of summer, and you totally have hair on the back of your neck, right at this moment! I bet it's sticking all over the back of your neck and making you feel extra sweaty! Gross! (Unless you are in an office, in which case it's just awkwardly gelled to your neck because of earlier sweat! Double gross!) I'm here to help, friend.

I would be nothing without bobby pins. I carry them around with me in my purse because a) I’m a pack rat who hates being unprepared and b) they are, without a doubt, the most versatile way to solve your hair woes. Don’t believe me? When was the last time your hair elastic held your bangs off your forehead, huh? I get the impression that bobby pins and the styles they allow are considered advanced procedures, like an elastic is way easier to use. No way! Bobby pins are so much more effective, and and look a million times better. Plus, you can wear them with your helmet, so they promote safety too! Is there anything bobby pins can't do??

Especially if you are in an awkward, in between length, from about earlobes to shoulder-grazing, where you can’t put up your hair without your layers and short hairs in the back falling out and sticking to your neck, LISTEN UP. I want to help you. Put away your hair elastics—that stub of a tail sticking out the back of your head is doing nothing for you. You are a queen. You deserve to have hair that makes you feel like a lady, and I swear, it’ll take less than 5 minutes to do. I made this video below to show you how to do the above 'do—see? I'm talking a lot in it and it only took 7 minutes! You can easily do it in 5, no prob.

You'll need:

combed hair

bobby pins

hairspray

In case you can't watch it, this is roughly what I'm doing:
Grasp the hair at the side of your face as if to pull it back. Then start to twist your hair horizontally towards the back of your head, curling upward and inward. As you move along the twist, start to pick up hair along the way, much like a French braid, and add bobby pins. The tension in the twist will keep your hair from falling out between the pins. Keep working around until you get to the centre of the back of your head. If your hair is short, it’ll probably be done, so pin it to your head. Repeat for the other side, and when you get to the back-centre, try to tuck the new end across the previous one, and into the previous roll.

Let me know in the comments if you tried this!

What's your favourite summertime hairdo?

Hair Plans

Growing out bangs in the summer is a hard thing to do, and I'm getting bored of the styles I've got, which is why I perked up at the sight of this post by the beige. Headscarves! They are always there, always forgotten, but perfect for the hot weather. Keep your hair off your face! Wear them with earrings and look instantly chic! Pair with big sunglasses and pretend to be a celebrity with your venti Starbucks iced coffee (or not, that last one was purely delirious Laura)! You don't have to look like Nicole Richie.

You can look like this!

the biege

Or this!

AMERICA!!!

By the time you read this I will be on a Greyhound bus to Detroit, my second favourite North American city. Dan and I are taking a much needed vacation away from school, work, and soon-to-be moving woes to visit his friends and fam, see some great shows, watch a baseball game, drink big slurpees, eat at diners, and do some thrift store shopping. What I am excited for the most, though is THIS.

coneyislandhotdog

Detroiters, from what I understand, will put anything on a hotdog, but the coney is my favourite kind. YUM.

Here are some other pics that have inspired my travellers imagination.

messy hair

short shorts and sheer blouses

blonde hair, laid back, big boobs

platform laceup boots

Have a good weekend, y'all!

When I Grow Up

Personal style evolves outside of the trends Vogue deems fashionable at the moment, or beyond H&M's newest displays. The best fashion acts as a commentary on the times, a moveable artform that represents a reaction. It's unfortunate that so much of fashion (and the fashion economy) is driven by the 'necessity' of now—the latest cut, the trendiest colours, the newest shape—which I guess can be taken as a reaction to feel connected to something larger.

I find those with their own distinct style, honed from years of experimentation, the most exciting additions to style conversations. People that cultivate a look outside of the norm seem so brave to me, especially when it's paired with a sense of ease and openness. It's not necessarily about attracting attention, but it's about how a perspective can change the way you interact with the world. And that makes people with unique style, especially style that falls outside of what's expected, so inspiring.

via

In browsing through Advanced Style, a blog dedicated to stylish elders, I came across artist Victoria MacKenzie-Childs. While her technicolor hair is certainly eye-catching, what really draws me to her is her sunny disposition and warm interview—doesn't she just seem so kind?

via

I found it so interesting when she talks about first dying it, and how happy her colourful hair made everyone around her. Her response was, "This is my job now." I love the idea of sticking with a style based on enjoying what it provokes out of others. Her look encourages a sense of play, of lightness, and interaction. Her look encourages conversation, and challenges ideas of what hair should look like, and especially ideas of what old people should look like.

Maybe she was always so sweet, or maybe it's been years of delighted reactions to her hair that have made her such a confident and charming woman. When I grow up, I want to be brave and bold in my sartorial choices too. And I especially want to have laugh lines like hers, that run so deep and leave no spot unmoved when she smiles, lines that speak of a life well lived.

For more on stylish older women, watch this wonderful little video from Nowness, produced by Ari Seth Cohen of Advanced Style and filmmaker Lina Plioplyte, featuring stylish older women discussing style. Fearlessness! Let's embrace it girls, until we all become glamorous old dames like this crew.






Advanced Style: Age and Beauty on Nowness.com

Hair tutorials

Do you ever have those days where you wake up with so much to do that you don't know where in the world to start? Instead of doing anything productive I have been lying on the living room couch, silently coaxing our new foster cat to stop hiding and come out and be cute! I gave her some catnip, hoping to relax her a little, and I can hear her licking it up off the floor. I don't want to scare the poor thing, but I really need to do my Buns of Steel workout video, and I don't think the room is big enough for the both of us.

Another thing I've been doing this morning is find cool hair tutorials. These are some of my favourite things on the Internet, and I wanted to share my current favourites.




Here are Joanna Goddard's easy steps for making this sweet up-do.

http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/search/label/hair

1. This style is so easy, it's laughable. Day-old hair is best (which is true for most hairstyles, since it's easier to work with hair that has a little dirt in it).

2. Divide your hair into three equal parts and quickly spray each section with a little hairspray to help give it hold. Let the hairspray set for a couple seconds, and then lightly comb it out.

3. Take the section on your right side, and twist your hair all the way down to the end. You want to twist counter-clockwise, toward your face. Wrap the right section in on itself, just like you're making a little bun. Let some of the hair stick out, it's ok (you don't want them to look like Princess Leia buns).

4. Pin the right bun in place. I like to use these mini bobby pins, since they're easier to hide and they're coated in rubber so they hold your hair better.

5. Next, twist the middle section clockwise and pin. Then twist the left section clockwise and pin.

6. Spray the three buns with a little more hairspray, and you're done!

Easy, right? And oh-so-cute. Here is the abridged version of another great 'do.

http://experienceparisienne.com/blog/ooh-la-la-how-to-get-a-perfectly-messy-bun/

Step #1: Make your hair dirty. (During the week, [I] use dry shampoo to keep her hair from getting greasy.)

Step #2: Next, pull together your hair and hold it straight up.

Step #3: Then twist your hair down to a few inches above the crown.

Step #4: Wrap your hair around itself until it forms a loose bun, right on top of your head.

Step #5: Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. “Anywhere from four to eight, depending on how thick your hair is,” C. says. “You want it loose but secure.”

Step #6: Finally, pull loose strands of hair from the nape of your neck and around your face to make it look like you’ve worn the bun all day (or even slept in it!) And there you have it: That certain je ne sais quoi.

I've been wearing my hair like this now all morning. It looks messy, but in that chic, too-busy-to-do-my-hair, French kind of way. I find 4 or 5 bobby pins keep it nice and secure.

My all time favourite hair tutorials are videos by Loepsie. 

Loepsie is the cutest. I've been trying to figure out where she is from (Holland?) but I've given up. She's got a great accent and her eye rolling is totally sassy. She is very hair-friendly. She has lots of other great videos on how to grow long hair and keep it looking healthy. (NO HEAT!) I love this hair curling method because you can sleep in it and wake up looking great. There is nothing as easy as this. I now have about 4 "sock buns" floating around the house. Maybe when the cat comes out of hiding she can play with them.

She also has some great braid tutorials:

Isn't she adorable? I encourage you to watch more of her videos to get hair-healthy tips.