Dame Elizabeth

There is a woman who my mother and I always shared a love and interest for. And that woman is the great and oh so very lovely Elizabeth Taylor. She has been called the most beautiful woman in the world with her velvet eyes and stunning features. As a beauty icon , her look, style and grace were one-of-a-kind.
There aren't alot of well known beauty secrets from Elizabeth but one thing that she did do will strike you as odd...Celebrity aesthetician Kate Somerville's revealed both Marilyn Monroe and Elzabeth would shave their face to exfoliate. And if you're wanting to try it out, Somerville says hair growing back dark is nothing but a myth.
Elizabeth Taylor was one of the first women I based my looks on. Her timeless look will forever live on with Kevyn Aucoin's tutorial modeled by the also lovely Winona Ryder.









x.o. Brandy
(follow me on twitter @BrandHoward)

We're Mad about Christina Hendricks

"So many Women have said encouraging things to me, told me it's been inspiring to them, that I feel like it is something to celebrate," she says and laughs. "Honestly, for people to be nice about anything is so darn rare in this town." (When nay-sayers remark on her cleavage- showcasing
dresses, she shrugs: "I've had people be like, 'I can't believe she's wearing that- it accentuates her breasts!' Look they're not going anywhere. They can't be hidden!")
Christina Hendicks is a good role model to any woman. Showing off her curves and being proud of them. Not giving to the Hollywood stereotype of size zeros. She has stuck to who she is and I believe any young girl could learn a thing or two from her or her onscreen alter-ego Joan Holloway from Mad Men. "Joan is the kind of person who knows that every second, at least one person is watching her," says Hendricks. "Every time she
stands or moves, she's doing it for someone else."













x.o. Brandy
(follow me on Twitter @BrandyHoward)


from The Ellements of Personal Style
25 Modern Fashion Icons on How To Dress, Shop, and Live

My Muse...

Marilyn Monroe will now and forever be one of my biggest inspirations. I believe every girl has at least once fanisiced what it might be like to be or look like her. I came across a tutorial from Kevyn Aucoin on how to do your makeup like marilyn Monroe modeled by Liza Minnelli and also some of Marilyn's famous beauty secrets!





Some of Marilyn's most famous beauty secrets...

Used Nivea Skin Moisturizing Lotion

Her first husband claimed she washed her face 15 times a day

When she wasn't wearing makeup, she smoothed olive oil on her face

Marilyn liked to take ice baths to smooth cellulite. She would sometimes add Chanel NO. 5 to her bathwater

Erno Laszlo was a Hungarian born dermatologist, who moved to New York in 1939, and set up the Erno Laszlo Institute specialising in beauty treatments and cosmetics. Marilyn was a massive fan, and you can still buy some of the products she used today







x.o. Brandy

(follow me on twitter @BrandyHoward)

Choose Wisely....

There are many stories of bad salon experiences and I'm sure we all have at least one. But some are worse than others. While in school we were taught to keep everything clean and tidy. To sanitize every instrument after every use. But some salons don't keep to that same rule. There have been many stories of people going to a salon for a simple eyebrow wax or manicure and ending up with herpes or some other infection. Salons without a license and not really knowing proper sanitation rules.
There was a college student once doing a study of what other students would spend the most money on. And going to the salon was one of the top ones. She went to the local salon to get a simple eyebrow wax and ending up getting herpes in and around her eyes. She later found out that the stylist did not change wax sticks from the previous client. Little mistake like these are what can cause life changing infections and law suits.
A while back my sister and I went to a local salon in Wisconsin to get our nails done. It seemed harmless enough. There was one women there to do both of us. One thing I noticed is that she didn't sterilize between me and my sister. My sister was getting her nails done and said something was burning her cuticles and she asked what it may be. And guess what the lady said..."I don't know. How should I know..". I looked around and what do you know..no license.
You should always be very careful at what salon you choose to go to. Low prices may not always be the best choice. Always look for good sanitation and a license on the walls.

I am also posting links of other stories of bad salon experiences and feel free to comment any of your salon expereinces.


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126069&page=1

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53589,00.html

x.o. Brandy

Before You Do It!

Perms...it's a tricky subject because some people love them and some people hate them. I'm very nuteral on the subject. Some people can pull them off and look fine. If your thinking about it..think long and hard. Read about it and ask your sylist. If you have super straight hair and you want your hair to look curly...please keep in mind what perms really turn out looking like. I think a lot of people want hair that will end up like this...




But will more than likely end up with this...




Not that this isn't cute. It may not be what your looking for...
Perms can cause alot of damage to your hair. Perming over-bleached hair that probably has some damage to the hair's cuticle will likely cause big time frizz. While frizz can be taken care of with product, it can also be a sign of serious breakage. So please girls think twice before deciding to perm your hair. And ALWAYS go to a professional!

x.o. Brandy
(follow me on twitter @BrandyHoward)

Photoshop....

Now, I don't disapprove of photoshop. Some pictures need to be improved or some pimples disappeared but some are done way too much. Including this picture of the beautiful Beyonce Knowles. To me photoshop is a tricky subject. I look at the before pictures and I think...some things need to be photoshoped...but not to this extent. The color of her true skin is beautiful why mess with it.
There is also the picture of Zooey Deschanel and her Rimmel London Ad. People thought it looked like her but just wasn't sure. And Kourtney Kardashian and her Ok! Magazine photo promoting post baby weight lost. I just think we should keep it as simple as teeth whitening and touch-ups. Not to let people see their idols for what they aren't.




















x.o. Brandy =)
(follow me on twitter @BrandyHoward)

I'm Back And Better Than Ever!

I haven't been on to blog for a long while now. I've been so busy with school and life. But I am so excited to share my experiences with all of you! So let me catch you up...in case you didn't know I was going to Regency Beauty Institute and living in St.Louis. If your thinking of beauty school I defiantly recommend this school. The instructors are amazing, tons of hands on experience, enough one-on-one time, and the atmosphere is amazing! But really think about this...beauty school isn't for everyone. It's hard work but if your passionate about what you do then go for it.
I have learned so much in the past couple months and am so very excited to share everything with you. Makeup, hair, fashion, and inner beauty, products i recommend and much more! So please keep following and thank you for being patient!


x.o. Brandy (follow my twitter! @BrandyHoward)