Get Ready with Me | IGTV Make Up & Hair Tutorial

Hi, friends! WOW, times have changed since my last post, eh? With COVID-19 lock downs and quarantines going on, my 2020 travel plans came to an abrupt halt. Sooo, while I am stuck at home, I thought it would be a great time to work on some content that has been on my back burner.

I haven't been doing my hair or makeup much throughout quarantine....I mean, let's be real, why bother? It has been so nice and refreshing to let my skin breath and keep heat off my hair! The few times I have done a light makeup look, though, I received a lot of compliments and requests on Instagram stories for a tutorial. Honestly, I'm a little shocked but so flattered! I am NOT a makeup pro at all and don't know what I'm doing! I've also been receiving requests for loose curl tutorials ever since I cut my hair. Since I have so much time on my hands during daylight hours now, I finally recorded both tutorials and posted them to IGTV on @amandasOK in a "Get Ready with Me" IGTV video!

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My Experience with Hand Tied Extensions

Truth time: my hair is my favorite thing about myself. It always has been! That might be shallow, but whatever. I've been a "Becky with the Good Hair" since I was in highschool and it makes me feel beautiful. I chopped my hair off like Reece Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama when I was 12 and vowed to never have short hair again. I grew it back out and since I was 14, I've had the exact same hair cut, color and style. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...ya feel me?

Well....in the last year or so my perfect blonde locks started thinning out and not growing like they used to. Maybe it is from too much heat, maybe it is from color, maybe it is a part of getting older. Whatever it is, since my hair has always been such a big part of my identity (especially on Instagram), it was causing some insecurities and frustrations. Most people would probably say it would be healthier to reinvent your identity and love your new self instead of indulging yourself....but I digress. I tried hair growth supplements, I tried expensive repairing products and nothing was working.

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My Experience with Microblading

Let's talk brows! I've been having a lot of good brow days lately thanks to my recent microblading + powder brow combo sessions with Gilded Beauty OKC! In short, I got my eyebrows tattoo'd on. If you haven't heard of microblading, let me fill you in. It's a semi-permanent tattoo that fills in and shapes your brows perfectly (just like you would do with a brow pencil) by mimicking hair-like strokes with a pigmented ink (similar to tattoo ink, but safe for your face). It's done with a hand tool, which is more like a tiny razor blade as opposed to a tattoo pen, and basically gives you extra brow hairs. I had wanted to get my brows microbladed for several years so I jumped at the chance to collaborate with Michele at Gilded Beauty when she reached out to me!

I'm going to share my experience with microblading below from start to finish and will follow it up with some common questions I received from my followers. If there is anything I didn't answer, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM on Instagram!

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Faux Tan 101 + My Favorite Self Tanners

USA Kiss Tank Top c/o Pink Lily | USA Baseball Tee c/o Pink Lily | Shorts, Similar Here | Designer Inspired Sunnies 

Fake baking is out and faux tanning is in! I always crave that golden glow and feel like a whole new person (and a much better and prettier person) when I'm tan. Luckily, spray tans and self tanners are getting better and more natural looking by the day. Long gone are the days of looking like you rolled in Doritos! With such great faux tanning options available, it makes laying in a tanning bed or getting sunburnt sound so unappealing (plus, I mean, no one wants to look like leather by the time they are 40 amirite).

I talk about spray tans pretty frequently on my Instagram stories so I thought I'd bring that conversation to the blog! I get my spray tans done by Paxton with Get Naked Tans. She is located at 822 Broadway Salon in Automobile Alley. They last about 1.5-2 weeks if taken care of (more on that in a minute) and look so natural! I mean......just look at my legs in these pictures!

Below I'm sharing how to prep for a faux tan and take care of it afterwards - aka Faux Tan 101. The same strategy applies whether it is a spray tan or a self tanner! I like to use self tanner in-between my sprays to make them last a bit longer and keep me looking bronze, so I'm including a few of my favorite self tanners, as well.

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My Go-To Skin Brightening Serum

Raise your hand if you're a summer girl who loves to lounge in the sun 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am all about that my mermaid life and would happily soak up the sun for hours on end, but those warm, happy rays can be so harmful to the skin. I live for a good golden glow, don't get me wrong, but thanks to too many hours by the water (and not enough sunscreen), my face is now sprinkled with dark spots and melasma that I am constantly trying to hide and/or get rid of.

If you follow me on Instagram stories, you've probably seen me talk about different techniques I've used to combat the issue recently. IPL laser treatments and chemical peels have really helped, but  professional treatments like those can get costly quick and aren't something I want to do on a regular basis because they aren't exactly painless! My every day skin brightening solution is a good vitamin C serum and Heladerm's has become my go-to.

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An Honest T3 Micro Review

Amour Sweatshirt, on sale for $17 | Faux Leather Leggings | Nike Juvenates | Designer Dupe Sunnies | Lips, color is Patina

Hi friends! I got a T3 Micro curling iron and hairdryer for Christmas - both had been on my wishlist for yeeeears. I always wondered if they were worth the cost / really as good as bloggers said they were. I received SO MANY questions on some recent Instagram stories about how I curl my hair, so I thought I would dive in and talk about my experience with T3! There will be a curl tutorial coming to my Instagram stories soon....stay tuned!

This is 100% NOT-sponsored, by the way. It's a completely honest review! I received the products as Christmas gifts and T3 has no idea I exist or am writing this.

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Lash Extension Q+A

Ribbed Long Sleeve Tee (sold out), similar here and here | Similar Scarf, also love this one! | "A" Necklace | Heart Earrings | Lips, color is Velvet Teddy | Braid Tutorial is on my Instagram Highlights! 

Hi, friends! I recently jumped on the eyelash extension train and have received so many questions about them so I thought I'd put a little review and Q+A together for you. Long lashes are all the rage right now; I tried so many of the lash options out there before giving extensions a try so I feel like I have a good perspective on it. Spoiler alert....my life will never be the same!!

I've tried glue on strip lashes, magnetic lashes, serums, lash primer and even growth enhancing essential oils. My lashes were never short by any means, but they didn't wow anyone, either. I hated how heavy strip lashes felt (and sucked at putting them on), magnetic lashes were too "straight" on me (for lack of a better word) - I loved how they looked in photos but they didn't fit the curve of my eye and always stuck out on the edges. Serums and primer definitely helped my lashes look longer, but they were never very voluminous, partially because my natural lashes are a bit of a lighter color. When I first tried lash extensions, I wasn't sure if I would keep them up but now I can't imagine life without them!! I seriously wake up every day, look in the mirror and think.... "I woke up like this!"

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Tips for Healthy Hair Growth + My Weekly Hair Routine

I get a lot of comments on my hair - they are always my favorite kind of comments because my hair is my crown of confidence! I have had the exact same long hair cut since I was 15....if it ain't broke don't fix it, ya feel me? In the 13+ years I've been taking care of it, I've learned a thing or two about overall hair health and how to grow it long / keep it long, thick and healthy.

Obviously everyone's hair is v. different, so what works for me might not work for you, BUT it's worth a shot!

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5 Steps to the Perfect Faux Tan

One Piece Suit - comes in several colors and is on sale for $18! | Similar Hat | Lips, color is Patina

As I say farewell to summer, I'm suddenly realizing just how little time I've spent out in the sun this year. My pool days were few and far between....good for the health of my skin, yes, but I feel sooooo much better about life in general when I'm tan. It's just a fact! Anyone else? Lucky for me, faux tans are not frowned upon in today's society. Faux tans mean you're taking better care of your skin instead of lathering on some oil and cooking under the hot summer sun. Long gone are the days of fake baking in the tanning booth, too. I hung up my key card two years ago and even though I miss my year-round tan (and my heart sticker tan line tattoo circa 2008), I know my skin is eternally grateful that I'm using a self tanning lotion instead of those harmful rays. I'm not here to lecture you, though!

I believe I've mastered the art of applying self tanner. Follow these steps and you too will have a streakless, natural glow all year round that doesn't make you look like a Jersey Shore character.....but can I still get a GTL fist pump for old times sake??

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Beauty Products for Travel

Jumpsuit (white is sold out), available in Navy for $14 and very similar in Yellow! | Heels | Gucci Bag | Lips, color is Caramello

If you've been following along for long, you know that I've been doing a LOT of traveling this year. I've more or less got the whole packing thing down to a science (I didn't think I would ever say that). I still struggle with what outfits to bring sometimes, but I have specific go-to travel toiletries and beauty items that I never leave home without.

For those of you who don't travel frequently, I know packing can be daunting, so I rounded up a few of my favorite hair and beauty items for you. These are all proven (by your's truly) to work for gals on the go!

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10 Holy Grail Makeup Items

Tank Top - on major sale! | Shorts - my all time favs | Rose Gold Sandals | LV Designer Dupe Sunnies | Lips, color is Bahama

Disclaimer: I by no means consider myself a beauty blogger or a makeup pro. I barely know enough about makeup to get by! BUT, I am a product junkie and I love sampling things until I find a product I love. Once I do that, I'm a repeat customer for life! I did a "Holy Grail Hair Products" post a while back that was very popular, so I thought I'd do a similar one for makeup! I am definitely more of a hair guru than a makeup junkie, just saying!

Now, go figure, I took these pictures before I came up with a topic for this post so I'm not wearing any of the lipsticks or chapsticks that I linked below BUT, I am wearing everything else on my list!

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Get Your Beauty Sleep | VIIcode Oxygen Eye Masks Review

There's not much worse than someone saying, "Wow, you look tired." Jee, thanks..... Since I started teaching 5:30 a.m. fitness classes I've been hearing that phrase pretty regularly. I'm normally an early riser, but I am by no means a 5 o'clocker. On top of that, I've been teaching or working most weekend mornings recently, so I haven't really had a chance to catch up on rest lately.

All the early mornings have been taking their tolls on my body as a whole, but you can really see the negative effects in my eyes - they look puffy and have dark circles and bags underneath. Lucky for me, VIIcode reached out to me just in the nick of time! I had heard great things about their products from fellow bloggers and their O2M Oxygen Eye Masks for Dark Circles did not disappoint.

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Long Hair Don't Care | Cocoa Locks Review

Similar Vest Here & Here (on sale!) | Striped Tee | Leggings | Glasses, c/o Warby Parker | Shoes | Lips, color is "Stripped" 

A while back, Cocoa Locks reached out to me and asked if I wanted to sample their drinkable hair vitamins. Of course I immediately said YES - I'm all for anything that makes my hair healthier. I've had long, thick hair most of my life so I wasn't expecting to see much extra growth from it....I was just hoping it would stay healthier and stronger between cuts. However, after using the product for a little over a month, I have been truly amazed at the results and had to share.

I got my hair cut the day before I started using Cocoa Locks and it has already grown 1-2 inches! It is healthier than ever, too - shiny, thick and soft/silky. Normally my ends start to dry out pretty quickly after a cut because I use heat on my hair regularly, but not this time. They are still super blunt and healthy looking! This could be due to my current hair product routine, but I think Cocoa Locks has a lot to do with it, as well. My hair typically stops growing right below my bra line and it has already surpassed that - I'm anxious to see just how much longer it will get!

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10 Holy Grail Hair Products

Similar Cardi Here and Here (both on sale!) | Lace Trim Silk Cami (only $8!) | Gucci Belt, Dupe Here | Valentino Dupe Espadrilles  (multiple colors - on sale for $30!) | Kendra Scott Necklace | MAC Lips in Velvet Teddy

I'm gonna be honest with you.....my favorite thing about myself is my hair. HA! I've had the same cut and color since I was 14 and I'm OK with that......do what works! I've always aimed for the "Blake Lively / Serena" look when styling my hair, and I think I've pretty much mastered it by now.

Enough tooting my own horn, though! I've gotten a ton of hair compliments lately (my favorite kind of compliment to receive) so I thought I'd share my holy grail hair products that I swear by and could never live without. I did a similar post last year, and several of the products made the list again! That's when you know they are true winners.

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What's Your #SkincareStatus?

I partnered with Neutrogena to bring you today's blog post.

The most important relationship in life is our relationship with ourselves. Self-love is SO important - if you're not happy with yourself, it affects any and every area of life, whether you want it to our not. Been there, done that, never want to feel that way again! The reflection you see in the mirror can change your entire day. For me, when my skin looks good, my day always starts in the right direction.

Your body's largest organ is the skin and the body is made up of over 50% water. It makes sense that you (and your skin!) need to stay hydrated in order to thrive. Taking care of your skin and keeping it moisturized will not only help you look and feel better now, but will keep you from aging too quickly. Bring on the moisture, am I right, ladies?

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Total Temptation + Surgery Recovery

Sweater - so soft and only $21! | Similar Jeans | Beaded Bracelet | Kendra Scott Earrings | Gucci Purse | MK Flats | Lips, color is Caramello

Guess what guys! I GET MY SLING OFF TODAY! Hallelujah praise the Lord! I'm a little nervous that the sling has become a security blanket and without it I'll hold my arm like a T-Rex, haha. But regardless, I'm excited to start making real progress on my recovery. Not sure if I'm more excited for this or my birthday?! Ha! That's saying a lot.

For those that don't know, I had shoulder surgery on a torn labrum six weeks ago (I hurt it renovating our house last year, not at the gym). The labrum is the suction cup that holds your shoulder in socket. It will be a really long recovery....like, nine months to a year or more.... It is a little discouraging to see my muscles shrivel away, but I know I will eventually get back to where I was physically before I was injured. I'm excited to start seeing real progress in the coming weeks as I begin to move my arm and add some cardio back into my routine. For now, though, I'll just let you check out my scars in a few of the following pictures. Off-the-shoulder and cold-shoulder tops are my favorite right now because I can show off my battle wounds!

In other news, Influenster sent me some Maybelline products to test out and review for you all (I'm wearing these products in the pictures, for reference). Keep reading to see my thoughts - I always try to be honest with you guys, so that's what I'm gonna do.

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Healthy Holiday Skin with Neutrogena

Robe | Primer | Foundation | Concealer | Under Eye Brightener | Blush | Eye Shadow Palette, Color is Soft Taupe |
Eye Liner | Mascara | Lips, Color is Deep Plum

I partnered with @Neutrogena to bring you my #HolidayHealthySkin look.

Now that Christmas is behind us, it's time to be real. The holidays are hard on our bodies. They're especially hard on our skin! All the sugar in Grandma's cookies, the dry heat from the furnace, the cold, crisp air, a few-too-many glasses of wine, a flight or road trip, and all that extra makeup for holiday parties. It can wreck havoc if you're not careful. Did your skin survive?

Luckily mine did, and I owe it all to Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup. Their products contain Vitamin E, Natural Soy and Feverfew Extract which all help with luminosity, texture, and tone, plus they provide antioxidant benefits! I really loved the foundation - it was breathable and natural looking while still providing great coverage and sun protection with SPF 20. It gave my skin just the right about of luminous shine without looking greasy. The best part was knowing that it was actually helping my skin instead of hurting it! I tend to be really dry in the winter and sometimes makeup can make me look extra flaky.... but with the Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup foundation and concealer, it almost felt like I was applying moisturizer instead of makeup. It covered my dry areas and blemishes flawlessly.

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Lancer Skin Care Review

I've really struggled with my skin the last year and a half. I spent countless hours at the dermatologist, I tried R+F (I even sold it for a bit), all natural products, prescription drugs and lots more to get rid of my cystic acne and NOTHING worked. I cried in front of the mirror and wanted to hide where no one could see my skin. I got really good at editing zits out of pictures......ha. It was BAD. And I'm not even exaggerating the tiniest bit. About six months ago, with the help of my dermatologist and esthetician, I finally got it under control (praise the good Lord in heaven) and have had relatively normal skin ever since.

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How I Whitened My Teeth Without Sensitivity (+ Giveaway!)

Sweater | Leggings (THE best) | Leopard Flats | Engraved Bar Necklace

Hot coffee is a staple my morning routine, no buts about it. It is a pretty regular addition to my afternoon, as well, especially on days when I'm feeling a little slow. I'm slightly addicted to the stuff and I am a-ok with it. But, with coffee comes yellow teeth or stained teeth and that's something I'm not on board with!

Insert: Smile Brilliant! It is the #1 dentist recommended teeth whitening procedure, delivered right to your door. Their products are actually the exact same ones dentists use. They provide all the materials needed to create personalized teeth whitening trays at home + the steps are as easy as 1-2-3.

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Date Night Ready

Top (only $13!) | Jeans | Leopard Flats (only $12 and really comfy), Similar Here | Necklace | Sunnies (sold out), Similar Here

Fridays are just the best! Am I right or am I right?? This Friday is extra special because it's my last day at work for two weeks! My brain is totally already on vacay mode - can you blame me? C and I leave tomorrow for a big vacation and I could not be more excited (and slightly anxious that I forgot to pack something important). Be sure to follow along on Insta-stories to see where we're headed and what all we have in store! I'll give you a hint: we are spending Saturday night and all day Sunday in NYC for a long layover before we board a very long flight.....eeeek!!

Whether its vacation or not, my favorite part about Friday is that its a good excuse to get all prettied up and go out for a date night dinner! Spending a little more time on hair and makeup and picking the perfect outfit always makes date night feel that much more special and important. And I love it! One on one time with your special someone (i.e. not sitting next to each other on the couch with cell phones in your face) is such an important part of a relationship and something I always enjoy.

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