My YouTube video!

I caved! I posted a video on YouTube! Enjoy :)

Back To School: Day Two

Well, it's the second day of school and now that you know where your classes are and you know what to expect. The second day is an opportunity for you to dress up a little more, that way you can worry more about the outfit instead of school. This look is laid back, but girly and vintage.

The skirt is an abstract purple and light grey print that is high waisted, but long enough to be appropriate for school. Tuck in this cute sheer blouse for a flowy balance and laid back approach. The skinny brown belt will help cinch your waist and separate the harsh print. The simple earrings keep the vintage feel, but don't over power the outfit. The oxfords not only look great with everything else, but also are extremely fashionable and versatile. That also goes for the light grey quilted shoulder bag which is girly and classic.

For makeup, do your normal foundation routine and only use bronzer to contour. For your cheeks, use a baby pink blush that will be bright and sweet, this will keep to the girly look. For your eyes, apply a shade that matches your skin tone all over your lid to give a clean look. For depth, add a light brown matte shadow into your crease. This is optional, but if you want to add something fun, place a light purple shade on your lower lashline. For eyeliner, add a brown gel liner to your upper lashline and on your waterline, then coat your lashes with your favorite mascara. Finally, put on a baby pink lipstick or lipgloss and you're finished!

For hair, go with loose bohemian waves like the day before and add a goddess braid.





I hope you guys enjoyed the second day look! Keep watching for the next three posts on back to school style!

Skirt: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=btms_skirts&product_id=2064787469&Page=4&pgcount=25

Shirt: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top_blouse_shirts&product_id=2000017013&Page=1&pgcount=25

Belt: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_belts&product_id=2000015675&Page=1&pgcount=25#

Earrings: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_earrings&product_id=1000027076&Page=1

Shoes: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=footwr_casual&footwr_style=&footwr_size=&footwr_color=&footwr_price=&product_id=2000019814&Page=3

Bag: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_handbags_shoulder&product_id=1000022614&Page=1&pgcount=25

Review: L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Waterproof Mascara

While I was at the beach I was trying to find a waterproof mascara I could wear when I came across this one. At first glance, it looked a bit scary, but I tried it anyways. This is a knock off of Givenchy’s mascara, which has a similar applicator. Let me be quite frank, I hate this stuff. Maybe the original formula is better, but this stuff doesn’t do anything for my lashes and was a waste of $10. I would not purchase this product.
The overall result is a clumpy mess and I much prefer my standard mascara wand.

Applicator

Back to School: Day One

Your first day of school is always a bit stressful. For me, I never sleep the night before and am a little excited for change. Back to school shopping is also one of my favorite things to do! (Who doesn’t love an excuse to shop?!)  Picking out your outfit for the first day is also something fun to do, and also a little tough. You want to stand out, show your style, and look awesome. Here’s what I would want to wear on my first day!

The striped blazer will give your look a nautical feel and give you a casual yet put together look. The red t-shirt adds a fun pop of color. A light wash skinny jean will be a cute asset, but won't steal the spotlight. As for shoes, the leopard flats give your outfit an unexpected twist, don't be afraid to mix patterns! The edgy jewelry brings together the gold tones in your shoes to the top half of your body, and the cute and versatile bag will be  the cherry on top!


As for makeup, I think you should reflect the gold tones from your outfit, as well as the bold black stripes.
1. Moisturize your skin (I use Yes to Carrots Day Cream and Eye Contour Cream)
2. Apply a primer for a flawless finish
3. Apply a concealer under yours eyes so you don't look tired and on any other blemishes
4. Using your fingers, apply a medium coverage foundation all over your face and neck
5. Using a small contour brush, sweep bronzer into the hollows of your cheeks and then use a large powder brush to dust it all over your face and neck for a healthy glow
6. Apply a natural rosy blush to the apples of your cheeks (I suggest using a cream blush to give your skin a dewy finish)
7. Apply a small amount of powder highlighter on you cheekbones and around your eye to your brow bone
8. Apply an eye primer to you lid so your shadows will last all day
9. Using your fingers, apply a cream (or powder) shadow that has a gold or champagne pigmentation onto your lid
10. Use a black gel liner to line your upper lashline and wing it out at the ends
11. Drag a small amount of the same liner halfway on your lower lashline as well
12. Apply a volumizing mascara
13. Apply a natural lip shade that enhances your lip's natural color

As for hair, I love this picture and I think it makes the look amazing!
To get this, use a large barrel curling iron (1.5 in or more) and curl your hair in sections away from your face. You can part your hair on the side or in the middle (I suggest middle.) Instead of using hairspray, run a bit of finishing cream through your hair to control fly aways and give a glossy finish. Take a piece of hair from underneath and fishtail braid it and tease the ends to hold it in place( no elastic required!) You can also tease your crown for extra volume. Another option would be creating several small braids instead of one large one.

I really hope you guys enjoy this first day of school look and stay tuned for Day Two!

Links and References:

Blazer: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=whatsnew_all&product_id=2000021142&variant_id=042&showBack=OK

$15

 Tee shirt: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top_basic&product_id=2078967422&Page=1

$4.50

 Jeans: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=btms_jeans&product_id=2000017558&page=1&trend=&fit=&pgCount=25#

$17.50

 Shoes: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=footwr_casual&footwr_style=&footwr_size=&footwr_color=&footwr_price=&product_id=2081258243&Page=1

$14.80

 Bracelet: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_bracelet&product_id=1000026794&Page=1

$3.80

 Earrings: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_earrings&product_id=1000016777&Page=3&pgcount=25

$2.80

 Bag: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc_handbags_shoulder&product_id=1081258750&Page=1

$29.80


How to fishtail braid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79rRMVkLuZ8

How to wing your eyeliner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxcWR9_1E9s

Series: Back To School

Hey everyone! I'm going to start a blog series about back to school, since that time is sadly approaching. Each post will consist of an outfit, a makeup look, a hair idea, and other bits. There will be 5 posts - one for each day of the first week of school, unless I'm requested to do more.

Be sure to look out for Day One soon!

Leave me a comment with anything you'd like to see or incorporate during your first week of school -xoxo

Requests!

Hi everyone, so I wanted to know what you guys wanted to see a post about? I have quite a few things I'd like to review, but I want to know what you guys want to see! Tutorial, haul, review, fashion tips...you name it, I'll do it. So, just leave a comment on this post and let me know what you would like to see! I appreciate it! xoxo

Review: Urban Decay Box of Primers

I was browsing Ulta a while back and came across a box with four primers by Urban Decay. For around $50, you received a Complexion Primer Potion, Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Eyelash Primer Potion, and a Lip Primer Potion. This was a steal, considering these products retail around $20 each!

The foundation primer is in the Pore Perfecting formula, designed to vanish pores and make your skin look flawless. Overall, I wouldn’t purchase this product again because I didn’t think it made a dramatic difference in my skin after I applied my foundation.
Get it here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1400072

The eye shadow primer is amazing, of course. This is possibly Urban Decay’s most famous product. I absolutely LOVE this stuff. It not only keeps your eye shadow in place all day, but also makes your shadow colors more vibrant on your lids. I’m obviously repurchasing!
Get it here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod2102549

The eyelash primer is very nice. I don’t like the drugstore dual-ended mascaras with a primer on one side, so I was wary about this product. I was pleasantly surprised. Urban Decay says this product is a “Lengthening, volumizing, fortifying mascara base.” I’m not so sure about the lengthening part, but it definitely makes my lashes volumized and full.  The trick with this product is applying your mascara immediately after applying this, that way you won’t have white eyelashes!
Get it here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1400076

The lip primer is something I would have never purchased on its own because I really don’t mind reapplying my lipstick or gloss. However, I love this stuff! For one, I really like the way it smells. It’s not moisturizing, but it keeps you lip color in place! Another great feature is that it has SPF 15! 
Get it here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1400082

Nail of the Day

 

For a soft look with a bit of a fun touch, I painted my nails a pretty pastel purple called "Lily" by Revlon in their Top Speed formula. On my ring finger, I used a glittery Ulta polish called "Starstruck" to make my nails look a bit more fun!



Get it here: :http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2225597&productId=xlsImpprod3120839&navAction=push&navCount=1&subdoc=23crazyforcoralwk1811&categoryId=cat80068#sku2225591

Review: Elf Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder

I purchased this product for a $1 at Target with high hopes of a good, cheap drugstore bronzer. Sadly, this product doesn’t quite do it for me. Most Elf products are hit and miss, and this one was definitely a miss. The texture of the powder is very soft, but almost too powdery. It’s easy to blend, but the color is just not right. It is almost a deep orange, which I do not want on my face! The shimmer is also a bit overwhelming. There’s WAY too much. As an alternative, I think that this product could work as an eye shadow. But, I definitely wouldn’t purchase it to use as a bronzer. At least it was only a dollar! I purchased the color warm tan.
Get it here: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/face/bronzers/healthy_glow_bronzing_powder

Swatched over foundation

                                                   

                             

I'm Back!

Hello everyone! I have been MIA for awhile and I apologize! Life got a little bit crazy, so this blog was pushed to the side because of other things. Anyways, I'm back, and so glad to be blogging again. My YouTube channel is not quite there...I uploaded and deleted a few videos...I was never quite confident in posting them, but I'm thinking of putting one up soon and KEEPING it there this time!
I can't wait to post here every day and share beauty and fashion with other girls (or guys) that share the passion for these things as well!
Thank you so much for reading this and be sure to tell your friends about my blog!
xoxo -Mara

Oh! And please leave me blog/video requests!

My New Favorite Thing: Bib and Big Necklaces

I purchased my first "big" necklace about a week ago at Forever 21 and I love it. In fact, when I saw it in the store I picked it up and created an entire outfit around it. I love what a statement it is. My other neckalce was purchased yesterday in a boutique in Asheville, North Carolina. These necklaces were both steals for me since they usually are around $30-$50. I grabbed mine for $8.80 and $16! These neckalces add so much fun to any outfit and I think it's definetely a trend worth trying.

Grab your's here: http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=acc%5Fnecklace&product%5Fid=1083160376&Page=all&pgcount=25

                                                                               My necklace from XXI >

My first video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2Rw7nIBPA

SUBSCRIBE :)

My YouTube Channel!

Hey fellow beauty lovers! So I finally caved, and I decided to make a beauty channel on YouTube. If you have an account PLEASE subscribe!! My first video should be up tonight. Oh and please remember, it's a work in progress ;)
XOXO, Mara

My channel is Mara's Choice :)

Outfit of the Day!

Today I decided to be bold with an animal print tunic, dark brown leggings, suede ankle boots, and a leather jacket. I kept jewelry simple with pearl earrings. My hair was second-day curl and I pinned it packed with some bobby pins. Enjoy :)

 

This leather jacket was purchased at Target and they aren't on sale anymore, but leather jackets are IN right now so they shouldn't be hard to find. I purchased this tunic/dress from Forever 21 at my local store. It was around $17 and I love it! It came with this belt but it tends to fall off.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Liner

This past holiday season, I picked up the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on pencil gift set that came with a full size liner in Zero and 9 other colors – Whiskey, Rockstar, Mildew, Gunmetal, Stash, Eldorado, Binge, Electric, and Ransom. The pigment of these colors is awesome, but this is expected with Urban Decay. I find that they aren’t great colors to apply to the waterline though. They don’t stay on the skin, but I do love using them for my upper lash line.

I will be repurchasing every color in the full size except for Gunmetal and Mildew.

  The swatch lists color from left to right from list above

Review: Maybelline's "One by One" Mascara

When I first picked up this mascara I was really excited because I absolutely LOVED their “Falsies” mascara. The “One By One” product was good, but it let me down. The product really does get all of your lashes and separates them nicely, but really that’s about it. I didn’t think the amount of volume on my lashes was as much as they advertised for and it gave you absolutely no length. All in all, I will keep purchasing my “Falsies” but I won’t be repurchasing “One By One” again