Laser Skin Rejuvenation {Guest Post}

What is Laser Skin Rejuvenation?

Laser skin rejuvenation (also known as laser skin resurfacing) is a type of treatment that reduces acne scars, dark spots, facial wrinkles and other irregularities. In order to work, a laser sends concentrated beams of light at the damaged skin. As the pulsating beam of light hits the surface, the irregular skin is removed one layer at a time.

The best candidates for laser skin resurfacing are those who have acne scars, brown/dark spots or fine lines and wrinkles. During the procedure, the technician usually chooses between two different lasers. One option is a carbon dioxide laser, and the other option is erbium laser resurfacing. Besides eliminating acne scars and wrinkles, the procedure can also treat warts and enlarged oil glands. A carbon dioxide laser works by sending continuous light beams in a specific pattern to remove layers from the skin. Erbium laser resurfacing is ideal for patients who have moderately deep wrinkles. Many people prefer this laser because the recovery time is faster.

Prospective patients should know that laser skin resurfacing is an outpatient procedure. If the doctor only treats certain areas on the face, the procedure may only take 30 to 45 minutes. When it comes to a full-face treatment, the procedure can take up to two hours to complete. Any time that the doctor is treating small areas on the face, he or she will use a local anesthetic to numb the areas. During a full-face treatment, the patient usually receives general anesthesia.

Following surgery, it is vital for patients to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher. Using sunscreen is a way for patients to protect their skin from harsh UV rays and hyperpigmentation.

The laser skin resurfacing process is an excellent way to diminish signs of aging. People can use the procedure to eliminate early wrinkles, age spots and deep lines. Laser skin rejuvenation can even treat acne scars, warts, blemishes and spider veins. Thanks to new technology, the entire procedure can be completed in less than an hour. Since it is an outpatient procedure, no hospital stay is required. This popular anti-aging procedure has proven to be safe and effective.

Guest post by Damon Scordo, General Manager of South Coast MedSpa (SCMS), a worldwide leader in laser skin resurfacing treatment for all skin types. SCMS is proud to announce the grand opening of its 4^th location in San Diego. SCMS offers SanDiego skin resurfacing, SanDiego skin rejuvenation and SanDiego acne scar removal for dark skin as well as light skin tones. SCMS also has locations in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Halloween Manicures

Lacey is guest posting some Halloween Manicure goodness today with some evil eye inspiration shown above or a presh tutorial for Minnie Mouse Nails below. something for your sweet or your salty.

insert evil laugh here [muaaahahahahahaha]

thank you Lacey for the great nail inspirations. for more step by step nail tutorials or unique nail designs by Lacey click here.

xo,
kristie

Football Nail Design

this time of year weekend = football in the blushing basics household. from college to NFL we watch it all. Tman and i are fans of OSU after his employment there for four years. now living in the Denver we caught the Bronco fever. Tim Tebow, anyone? 

i know Tebow is not a Bronco anymore but that was our first introduction to the team. now with Payton Manning leading the pack i have officially converted. i heart anything Manning. i am totally intrigued by that family!

a big thanks to Lacey for designing some fall football nail designs. you can definitely see her teams of choice, but these designs can easily be converted to your fan favorite.

thank you Lacey for some football inspo. click here to see more of Lacey's designs.

xo,

kristie

Zebra Nail Tutorial {Guest Post}

my girl Lacey is back with another brilliant nail concept. nail art is still a huge trend from the runways to the minivans, everyone is doing it. spice up your nail art trend with a contemporary accent nail, topped with some zebra stripes. i'm lovin' it.

xo,
kristie

Lip Gloss Review {Guest Post}

I have a confession to make: I like my lips. I know, that’s SO not what our society tells us is something a girl can say. (What? You like something about yourself? Quick, look at these celebrities and mythical airbrushed models who have/do/wear it waaaay better than you!). But it’s true. I like them. They’re full, bowed-shaped and fit my face well.  It’s not like I sit and stare at them in the mirror but I’ve never had anything to complain about. And neither has my husband – youknowwhatI’msayin’? Wink wink, nudge, nudge.

Was that as awkward for you to read as it was for me to write? Good.

For as long as I could read the flavor of my Bonne Bell, I have tried to find new ways to subtly accentuate my smackers. I even went through a teenaged phase when I walked around with slightly puckered lips to make them seem even fuller. Then one day someone asked me why I was making a platypus face and the puckering stopped soon thereafter. So to avoid being mistaken for an amphibious mammal again, I have stuck to lip gloss to show off those suckers. I own so many tubes of the shiny stuff that my husband has resigned most of his side of the bathroom drawers to my collection. That’s why I love him.

I was really excited to get a chance to check out a couple of glosses that I haven’t tried before. Secret Agent Beauty and Make Up For Ever were nice enough to pass a couple along. Here’s how they stacked up.

Secret Lip Affair in Foreign-Intelligence Flirt: Awesome gloss, ridiculous name. From the sound of Foreign-Intelligence Flirt (which does not need a hyphen, by the way, so that intelligence part may be pushing it a little) I expected a super bright shade normally only reserved for Bond girls. The real color is a shimmery soft pink that is subtle enough to be an everyday shade (laser bra optional). On top of the versatile hue, FIF is also billed as a lip treatment and plumper, and while I don’t think it reached my platypus levels, my lips definitely felt softer and tingly.  Minus the oxymoronic name, this is a definite win.

Aqua Rouge #8: review here

Make Up For Ever AquaRouge in Light Rosewood: I figured the best place to try out the long-lasting claims of this one was the one place where no gloss can or should stand a chance: the gym. Now, I’m sure you go to the gym in perky little sweat- (glisten-) wicking outfits but I, on the other hand, tend to slink in, two whining kids in tow, wearing my husband’s old lacrosse shorts and a t-shirt with a marvel comic character on it that I have made socially acceptable by turning inside out. So yes. Wearing a very noticeable shade of lip color with this ensemble did look utterly ridiculous. Think Drew Barrymore from the flashback prom scene in Never Been Kissed. Minus the taffeta.

By the end of an intense workout, complete with pitying smiles from the other gym goers, the finishing gloss was history but the stain was still pretty well in tact. It even weathered a few kisses on my baby’s chubby little cheeks and a smash against the head of a sweaty three year-old without coming off. The shade was probably a little too dark for my taste, but then again, so is everything when it’s paired with an Incredible Hulk shirt. A definite win.

Needless to say, these two will be gaining some coveted space in my gloss drawer. At times, they may even make the purse list – normally reserved for high-performing, battle-tested products. So even if you already have a few glosses that you love, it wouldn’t hurt to give these ones a try. After all, lip gloss is like a Kardashian’s dress – there’s never quite enough

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thank you Debbie for another hilariously awesome review. these gems just brighten up my blog and keep me laughing for days. if you would like to read more of her genius, click here.

xo,
kristie

Un Style {Guest Post by Debbie}

Fashion has been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe because I have been writing for this blog, maybe because lately it seems the number of items that I want (need? NEED.) is highly out of proportion with my fiscal consciousness (J. Crew’s latest collection anyone?). 

But more than just the consumer side of fashion, I’ve been thinking about style in general; specifically, the ebb and flow of my own. There have been times (mainly in my early 20’s) when I felt like I was pretty cutting edge - daring and unapologetic in my appearance, transforming myself with a combination of identities – rocker glam, feminine frills, preppy princess. And other times of my life when my wardrobe mainly consisted of the same t-shirt in five different colors. We’ve all been through this. I think. I hope. (Everyone except Kristie. Seriously. Girlfriend looks glam in leggings and an oversize sweatshirt. I’d want to hate her if I didn’t love her so much).

Okay, so maybe I’m only speaking for myself, but there have definitely been times when I’ve been more survivin’ than stylin’. 

Case in point: I had always promised myself that after I had kids I would not turn into a mom. Obviously, I was a mom, but I mean a mom mom, like that of momjeans notoriety. I would be a mama, she of hot origins.  Obviously this promise was made long ago when my stomach muscles still touched and my thighs did not. 

After my first child was born I felt like I made good on this promise. I may not have had a chance to brush my teeth before 3 pm but you better believe I had my 4-inch wedges on.  

Fashion before hygiene, people. 

So imagine my horror (HORROR!) when I found myself, post baby #2, walking around the grocery store in a zombie daze, nylon sweat pants on, hair falling out of a haphazard ponytail, rocking a baby bjorn in front, spit up stains in back and pushing my two year-old around in a giant cart/car monstrosity with a squeaky wheel which provided a backbeat to his toddler screams of “I want a cookie! I –WANT-A-COOKIE!!” 

Guess what the store was out of that day? Dignity. 

My point here, other than offering that lovely mental picture, is this: there are definitely times in our lives when we will feel like our fabulous-ness has turned into fail-bulous. And that’s okay. Because it’s not forever. 

Whether it’s a new baby, sickness, hard time, or just being plain tired, we’ve all been there and we will continue to go back. But sweatpants will not stay on forever. Eventually, you will wash your hair. Someday soon, you may even put something on with actual buttons. And then there will even be times when you pull out the completely impractical stilettos, vamp it up with the green shadow and cat eye, rock the neon pink stripped nails and know that you are working it. 

Nowadays, my wedges still make a fairly regular appearance, but definitely not as often as my plain silver flip-flops. And the next time I find myself in the store with those nylon pants and screaming kid, I’ll just hold my pony-tailed head up high and own it. Because I know that tomorrow I will break out the coral skinny jeans and liquid eyeliner. 

But tomorrow is a long way away and right now, these sweatpants fit just right. 

-Debbie

Crackle French Manicure {Guest Post}

here's a great nail tutorial created by my girl Lacey. she's a nail art-teest. seriously, she's a professional. which means her nails always look great and she is always coming up with great nail ideas. i love the use of the crackle nail polish in french manicure style.

while the tutorial above is pretty self explanatory, if you have any questions or perhaps some nail tutorial requests, please leave a comment and Lacey will hook you up!

xo,
kristie

Easy 4th of July Nail {Tutorial}

my girl Lacey is back with the simplest nail tutorial that is incredibly cute. who knew being patriotic/clever/trendy/adorable was so easy? begin by color blocking with your blue and red nail polish followed by some white stripes. celebrate 4th of July with some cute nails of your own.

*note- if striping is a bit sketchy for you, cut scotch tape into strips and use as a stencil. remove before polish dries.

xo,
kristie

Patriotic Nail Tutorial {Step by Step}

since today is my birthday (why hello 31!) i'm taking the day off from posting. thankfully i have a talented guest poster to introduce to you.

my girlfriend Lacey is always coming up with cute nail designs. when she offered to create a few patriotic inspired tips i jumped at the chance. here is a glimpse of her 4th of July French Mani and a quick tutorial showing you how she created it.

• Step 1: apply sparkle polish to entire nail followed by white applied in french manicure style.

• Step 2: apply alternating red and blue polish to 'double line' french manicure.

• Step 3: finish with some cute stars applied with nail art brush or toothpick.

thanks Lacey for the great idea!

xo,
kristie

Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy {Review}

I have a lot to thank my parents for. A happy childhood. Love and affirmation. A pantry stocked with cereal at all times. But there is one thing my parents have given me that I have had a hard time feeling grateful for: my heritage. 

I don't mean to imply we have some seedy family history. I mean my physical heritage - my skin. My Swedish, English, German skin. The whitest of the white people. My mom used to call it "porcelain." But let's be honest. 

I'm see through. 

I'm okay with this, though. I wasn't always, but any attempt at remedying this glaring situation typically went like this: overly ambitious laying out coupled with temporary amnesia regarding what a massive amount of sun does to fair skin, followed by an unholy amount of aloe and ending in my impersonation of the Kool Aid man. After a few times of this I finally decided the sun and I weren't friends. I embraced my whiteness. It just wasn't worth the burns, the future wrinkles, sun damage and, you know, cancer. 

If I have any desire to change my translucent ways then I am only left with one option: faux glow. Unfortunately, my previous spray tan efforts merely left me looking like Kool Aid Man's cousin, Orange Crush. I'm pretty sure I have an extra enzyme in my skin that reacts with cosmetics to produce an unnatural tangerine effect (see: my 10th grade foundation debacle). 

So when Kristie asked me to review Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Tinted Self-tan Body Spray, I was a little hesitant. Would I be willing to walk around looking like a melting creamsicle, a poor/sane man’s version of the "tan mom" all in the name of helping Blushing Basics readers avoid my tragic mistakes? 

Yes. Yes I would. 

Fortunately for me, this wasn't the case. A few quick sprays, a couple hours and my pasty skin transformed to a soft bronze. The color blends well, leaving surprisingly few streaks (which is an amazing feat considering the level of flexibility I attained while trying to reach all parts of my back) and stays fairly intact even after a couple showers. Color me impressed. 

It did leave me (and my bathroom floor – spray this stuff outside for goodness sake!) a tad on the orange side but, again, I think that’s because my skin rebels voraciously against pigment of any sort. It has a nice citrus-y scent reminiscent of Clinique Happy, which brings me back to me college days (Why hello 2003! How are you and your pre-children abs?) as well as a slight shimmer like that of the Cullen clan in daylight. You know, if they spray tanned (which, in the name of fitting in, they really should have). 

Quick warning for my transparent twinsies - this ain’t for fresh-faced newbies. Oh no. This is serious stuff. One good spray and you don’t just have a little sun-kissed glow. You’ve been glow-gunned. If you were hoping to slowly work your way up to some color, then this isn’t for you. But if you want the “why yes, I did just change ethnicities, nbd” look right now, then go for it. 

I don’t think it will rival Kristie’s beloved St. Tropez (hold for angels singing) but at $12, Beach Sexy is a definitely a good buy for a quick fix. 

As for me, I think I’ll stick to my natural glow. Or glare, I suppose. I hear see through is making a comeback.  

**********

thank you Debbie! i am so glad that Debbie is contributing to the blog because 1. she is hysterical and 2. she's a bestie. win-win. if you like her writing style then definitely check out this review here of Aveeno Positively Ageless moisturizer.

xo

kristie

Aveeno Positively Ageless {Review}

Hi Blushers! My name is Debbie and I am so excited to be a part of Blushing Basics! 

I am a mom of two young sons, a writer, a wife, a avoider of laundry and lover of all foods ending in “ella” - preferably nut. My fashion mantra is “That’s cute, but will I be able to chugga choo choo around the living room while wearing it?” I have known Kristie for over three years and I tend to put outfits together with the thought of “What Would Kristie Wear?” or “WWKW?” as my bracelet says. 

*************

Now let’s get down to business. Lotion business.

First up on the review queue is Aveeno’s Positively Ageless Hand Cream and Body Cream. I like these lotions for a couple of different reasons, the first of which has absolutely nothing to do with the lotion itself, but rather the fact that the description on the back describes the “cumulative effects of external assaults” on the skin. I’m not exactly sure what this means but I felt powerful just holding the bottles in my hand. I was fending off assaults! There may have been some air sword action. Don’t judge me. 

Lotion light sabers aside, I also liked the texture of both products. They aren’t overly greasy and don’t leave my hands with that sticky residue. Thankfully, the smell is also pleasant without being overwhelming. It’s fresh, calming and just strong enough to let others know that, despite your sweatpants, you do, in fact, take care of yourself. 

The hand lotion kept my hands feeling velvety and smooth for quite awhile, even after copious amounts of hand sanitizer (you don’t want to know why) and the body lotion kept the crocodile-like skin on my elbows smooth and soft well into the evening. In fact, I may have greeted my husband at the door when he came home, elbows jutted out, begging, “Feel this! Seriously! FEEL IT!” To his credit, he did. Because that is not the strangest thing I’ve asked him to feel right when he walks in the door. 

It remains to be seen whether the “Positively Ageless” part actually makes my skin feel younger and healthy-looking. The satiny smooth feeling definitely helps the years slip away but I don’t quite think my hands are gonna go all Benjamin Button on me. 

I love Aveeno products because of their high quality and natural (well, as natural as Distearyldimonium Chloride can be, anyway) ingredients.  I use them on my kids and I suppose it’s high time I do a little something to get my own “soft as a baby’s butt” feeling. Or, at least, “soft as a baby’s butt with a mild case of eczema” feeling. That’ll do, Isopropyl Palmitate. That’ll do. 

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thank you Debbie for such a great review! Debbie writes for glossies as well as blogs and you can find her at Klassy Gal (that's right, classy with a K because she's...ahem, klassy like that). she's one of my favorite friends and i am tickled that she has agreed to provide her great sense of humor and contribute to the blog. 

xo,

kristie

Hunger Games Eye Look {Guest Post}

a big thank you to Justina and Jessica of TBG {TruBeautyGems} for creating this makeup look involving the latest and greatest movie blockbuster. if you haven't heard of these TBG, i would recommend taking a minute to check out their blog. with product reviews, tutorials and videos, these ladies keep it real with honest and trustworthy advice.

{Guest Post}

The movie "Hunger Games" has been all the rage lately, and everyone has been going crazy over the Katniss braid.  There are so many other fun looks in this movie if you keep an eye on the Capitol fashions.  One of our favorite was the fun eyeliner look that Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) rocked.  He played Katniss's makeup artist in the movie.  We loved the sleek gold eye liner that he was wearing and decided to come up with our own spin on it!

Products used:  

Stila eyeliner in koi

Lancome matte eyeliner in Pink Pearls

Eyelash curler

Black liner for bottom lashline (optional)

Mascara

This was a super easy look to create.  I prefer to wear eyeshadow even if the color is nude on my lids, but you could forgo this step or use a concealer instead.  I simply added one thick line of my favorite gold shade, curled my lashes, and topped them off with a coat of mascara.  I like the extra definition that a little black liner on the bottom lashline gives me, but that step would be optional in creating this look.  I love how neutral, yet flashy this eye look is.

thanks for sharing Justina and Jessica!

xo,

kristie

DIY Studded Clothing {Saturday Style w/ Kim}

Every girl has an inner "rocker chick" that she's dying to unleash, and thankfully this popular trend makes it ultra- easy to play up this look without over doing it. I unfortunately had this preconceived idea that the minute you wore studs you fell into that punk, spiky choker, motorcycle riding, Mohawk kinda gal (not that thats bad of course!!!) By keeping this "look" down to only one or two pieces that are "studded" you will still be able to remain YOU!

Keep it simple. The safest way to wear this look is jeans, a tshirt, and a studded vest or jacket .. but it's not such a bad thing trying studded shoes, belts, earrings, necklaces, headbands, or shirts :) There is no shortage of options right now at any price range!

I own a few studded things..but decided I wanted to try studding my own jacket. It was so easy and CHEAP!!! iIfound the studs at a local t-shirt store... (you can purchase individual studs all over the internet: etsy, ebay.. don't pay more then 15 cents per stud) I found the biggest size they carried and bought 3 bags of 50 studs at 5.99 per bag. here are a few pics :)

Before you get started you will need.. pyramid (keep in mind that there are tons of different types of studs out there use what best suits your taste ) studs (aleast 50), the item youll be "operating" on and a pair of pliers.

This is one of my old jackets that i decided needed a little sprucing up .. from target
you will want to do this on a soft surface (i found it easier to do it on my carpet .. ) When you decide where you want your studding (pocket, neck, arm, shoulder etc) start at the top or top corner just depending on where you are doing it.

push the prongs through to the other side, after both prongs are through take your pliers and close the prongs down TIGHT!!! (if they aren't tight the prong will slip right off! ) Continue until you feel like your look is complete ..

This is my jacket .. (yayaya i know there are 11 studs on one side and 12 on the other .... it was my first time people, learn from my mistakes :) I would like to do more on mine (but my midget woke up from his nap so this is all i had time for!)

Here are a few more ideas on "studded" things that I love:

STUDS by thejaxns featuring studded shoes

Light pink dress, $83
Not Rated black kitten heels, $85
Jeffrey Campbell flat shoes, $165
Marais studded shoes, $150
Zara shop handbag, $189
Lowlife Triple S 3 Row Studded Belt - Graphite Stripe Black/Raspberry, £14
Studded Peter Pan Necklace, $55

Enjoy :)

kim

Everything Modcloth {Saturday Style w/ Kim}

Ever heard of Modcloth? no? well you are in for a treat!! I came across this website (clothing/home decor/accessories of course!!!) via my best friend.. AKA pinterest :) people had been "pinning" darling pieces of clothing from this website, and I've been obsessed ever since:) Susan the founder and owner started the company out of her college dorm and eventually it blew up into a huge success ! I "follow" Susan in Instagram .. and she has a quirky unique sense of style. You can definitely tell she appreciates all things vintage (just my kinda gal). She enjoys mixing old and new to create a fun ensemble. She also travels ALL OVER the world finding new and upcoming designers. It's super fun seeing her pictures of things she finds. She is definitely a source for inspiration. Here are a few of my favorites!

kim

all things modcloth by thejaxns featuring a retro swimwear

Eva Franco shift dress, $248
A line dress, $110
Stop Staring stop staring dress, $168
Sheer shirt, $58
Esther Williams retro swimwear, $90
A line skirt, $85
Vintage lace up boots, $130
Poetic Licence mary jane high heels, $98
Magnetic clutch, $43

modcloth by thejaxns featuring a polka dot mini skirt

Flower dress, $115
Dot dress, $55
Polka dot coat, $130
Polka dot mini skirt, $43
Flared jeans, $90
Cotton Candy metallic flat, $70
T strap pumps, $100
Zipper bag, $65
Retro jewelry, $9.99
Chain jewelry, $80
3dRender Pro-Viz Plants Vol. 07 3D Texture by 3dRender1, €19
Library Hearts Garland in Valentine's Day Shop by Category Cards &..., $10