Julia Robert's Mirror Mirror Beauty Treatment

While watching Mirror Mirror, the comedy fantasy film based on Snow White, with my son on our typical movie night, I couldn't help but take note of the Evil Queen's beauty ritual performed before she hosts a kingdom ball. 

What's called a 'treatment'; insects, bird droppings, and some strange goo at the end, seemed like the appropriate routine for someone of her ill-will... but most clever are the 'bee-stung' lips. 

This scene takes the cake for just how far you sometimes must go in the name of beauty (especially if you're a wicked storybook character).

The Body Shop Deep Sleep Pulse Point Balm

Summer evenings can be challenging when it comes to winding down and getting to sleep.  With darkness not coming until nearly 10pm, and a 3 1/2 year old little boy who likes to keep going until the last drop of daylight, my bedtime routine takes a bit of a beating.

Typically I like to be in bed early, giving my body time to relax and decompress from the day before feeling tired enough to close my eyes.  This usually takes about an hour, and with a later bedtime these days I've often wished I was one of those who just crashes the moment my head hit the pillow.

Suffice to say, with the Body Shop's Deep Sleep Pulse Point Balm, I actually become that person.  From nearly the moment I apply it to all my pulse points, behind my ears, and a little above my lips, I'm dozing off to dream land.

My son has discovered it's natural relaxing properties as well, and has begun requesting I apply it for him each night too.  If you or your little ones have trouble getting to sleep at night, I highly recommend giving this product a try.

Purple Beauty Looks

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I'm required to wear purple as part of a theme day at work.  Here is some inspiration I found while searching for purple beauty looks.  I especially like the purple lip, and Rachel McAdams looks especially pretty in smoky purple eyes.

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Runway Beauty Inspiration: Michael Kors

The runway looks created each year for Michael Kors Spring Collections never let me down, and 2012 was no exception.  Inspired by words like 'safari' and 'Africa', renowned makeup artist Dick Page explored the different sides of bronze.

I especially love the strong brows and flushed cheeks, while lips stay muted in caramel and skin is bronzed to perfection.  Using brown instead of black mascara, eyes are kept fresh and literally seem to sparkle. 

This is a runway look that can truly be translated into a daytime (or summer evening) beauty routine with little variation.  Outside of the strong brows that look great in photos, I'd change little else and still feel comfortable whether going to work or going out.

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Shiseido Bronzing Powder

When summer finally rolls around where I live, the absence of sunshine requires us locals to resort to other ways of getting the healthy tan we all crave. There are lots of bronzing powders to choose from out there, and many of them will leave you looking like a glimmer-y bronzed babe.

But if you're interested in looking like you have a more natural, radiant glow, check out the bronzing powders from Shiseido. There are three shades to choose from, and instead of leaving a shimmery sheen all over your face, these will leave your skin looking like you spent a pleasant afternoon by the pool.

My skin tone runs on the light-olive side, and for an everyday glow I find the Dawn Light 1 shade to be the most flattering with daily wear.  Comments from others on me looking like I've been on vacation have flowed so regularly- that I wish I could say 'Yes, I just got back from the islands'...

Multi-Colored Nails Inspiration

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Following the theme of yesterday's post, I found and collected across the web some inspiration for the rainbow nail trend.  If you're inspired by nail art but don't have a lot of time to devote to different techniques, this one packs a punch with limited time invested.  Perfect for summer and totally on trend.  For an illustrated how-to and just a cute article all around, click here.

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Purple Rainbow Nails

After reading some tips in a favorite magazine of mine on how to do the rainbow nail trend, I decided to give it a try.  One helpful suggestion was to choose colors in the same range, therefore avoiding an overly wild kind of result.

I got to work quickly categorizing my polish collection into blues, greens, oranges and purples.  From that point it was only a matter of deciding which to start with.  It was tough to pick between the oranges and purples, especially since orange shades are so flattering against tan summer skin.  Since we just started seeing regular days filled with sunshine around here, I opted for the former as a good place to start and also liked the idea of it complimenting the colors in my mother's ring.

The result is a fun, chic look that produced a few compliments the following day... and now I have the oranges to look forward to trying out as my tan develops throughout the rest of summer.

 Polish colors I used:

• OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender
• OPI Do You Lilac It?
• OPI Can You Dig It?
• L'OREAL After Hours
• SINFUL COLORS Nirvana
• JORDANA Gemstones