Ask Belle Roundup Vol. IV, No. Thirty-One

Jul 17, 2014

Hi Belle- 

I saw your post on the Emjoi Devine system, and I was wondering if you’ve ever had to address the oh so sexy issue of facial hair removal? Tweezing is easy, but it grows back so quickly. I’ve considered laser hair removal/electrolysis, but I haven’t been able to make the jump. Any thoughts?

Sincerely, (Hopefully) Every-Lady

We’ve discussed this a bit in the past, but it never hurts to have a refresher.  I use Bliss Fuzz Off facial hair remover on my upper lip (it also works on your chin, between your eyes or on your sideburns). Other recommendations?  I’ve used this Tweezerman Facial Hair Remover, it takes a bit of getting used to, but it does work.

Hi Belle,

I recently purchased a grey Theory suit on a very steep discount (blazer, pants). I would ideally like to wear the blazer more as a separate, and I’m weirdly having trouble with what to pair with it. Black seems harsh underneath as either a shirt or a dress; I don’t wear pastels so light blues and peaches are not in my wardrobe. Do you have any suggestions for either separates or as a full suit?

Thanks as always for your advice and blog! Good luck in law school! Anon

Black can be a bit harsh with grey.  That doesn’t mean it’s wrong, it just means that I would leave it for the winter season.  The example photo has a sheer ivory top, so that I would be an option.  I like this Vince Camuto sleeveless v-neck.  Want some more options?

rsz_screen_shot_2014-07-16_at_84046_pm

Pim + Larkin Grace Top ($79) // Calvin Klein Sleeveless Dress ($96) // Forever21 Pleated Woven Blouse ($15)

Along with ivory, another neutral that goes well with pale grey is navy.  I like this pleated top from Piperlime.  I’d also check out this split-neck Pleione top.  Or swap in a navy, sleeveless sheath dress like this one from Jones New York.

You can also go for a tonal look with darker grey pieces.  I like this dark grey dress from Calvin Klein.  I also like this dark grey long sleeve blouse from H&M and this pleat neck short sleeve blouse.  Grey prints are also a good choice, this grey printed blouse from Rebecca Taylor is a lovely option.

You said you weren’t really into pastels, but this lavender color top is pretty fantastic.  But if you’re not into the lighter shades, I’d go for jewel tones.  This eggplant Halston top is nice (you’ll need a cami).  I also like this emerald green L’Autre Chose blouse.

Belle,

I’m cutting back on my beauty/makeup spending to try to save up for a long vacation next year.  I am a MAC addict because I love the strong pigments.  Can you recommend a blush and eyeshadows that have the same rich look at a not-rich price?  

Thank you! Angie

For blush, the best choice on the market comes from Sonia Kashuk’s Target line.  I love the colors, especially the bright Flushed color.  Another product to try is Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush.  It’s a cream blush, but you can use blotting papers to achieve a matte look.

As for eye color, there are a few good, inexpensive brands.  I like NYX shadows for neutrals and earth tones.  The e.l.f eyeshadows also have strong pigments.  My favorite inexpensive shadow comes from Rimmel Glam Eyes–love the purples.

Dear Belle,

I hope you are enjoying your summer. You have provided me with so much fashion guidance and I turn to you again with a question. I am planning a trip to Turkey for a two-week long beach vacation. While I am all set on swim suits, I realized I do not have a single swim cover up. Do you have any suggestions where I could find a stylish (and budget friendly) beach cover up that I could wear over my swim suit at a beach, hotel pool, etc.

Thank you so much! Nijar

For beach coverups, you have two options: sheer beachy tunics/maxi dresses and jersey t-shirt dresses.  Let’s find some examples.

Beachy tunics can be found at many retailers, but the prices can be insane.  $200 for a striped linen coverup?  Seriously?  Conversely, this sheer Steve Madden tunic is under-$50.  I also like this printed tunic in bright blue, and this stripey, sheer tunic–both under-$50.

Prefer a longer cover-up?  This batik coverup comes in several colors.  I adore this pink ombre option.  And this blue and white paisley choice looks really elegant and chic.

I love the look of a longer coverup.  It’s so Joan Didion in California in the 1960s.  Just give me a Ford Mustang convertible and an umbrella drink.

Plus-size? Try this Rebecca Virtue coverup.  Petite? Try this long Old Navy crinkle chiffon coverup.

T-shirt Dresses.  The navy Gap dress that I posted on Tuesday is a good option.  I’d also have a look at this striped Joe Fresh dress from JCPenney.  This Splendid tee dress is also a good under-$50 option.

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  1. KC says:

    Great find on the Theory sale suit, does anyone have any insight on how the brand fits?

    • Belle says:

      It always runs small for me. And Theory suits don’t work for everyone. I know people who just never found a size or style at Theory that work for them. No idea why.

      • erin says:

        I’m one of those people. I’m curvy on the bottom, but not extremely curvy, and the pants and skirts were just a disaster. I tried every style available (this was in the outlet) and couldn’t find anything that came close to fitting my thighs without an enormous gap in the waist. Tailoring wouldn’t have fixed them, the proportions were just so off that I gave up after trying every style and 4 sizes. Very sad, maybe they’ll offer a new style with a little more room in the leg.

    • Stephanie says:

      The other poster is right– Theory fits me perfectly, and I have small legs and thighs, some hips and waist, not much of a butt. I’m 5’4″ and change, 110 or so, 32-25-34, size 2 fits top and bottom on me. Thank god because it’s one of the few suit brands that fits– Banana Republic and Jcrew both do this thing where the crotch is tight but the butt and thighs are loose. Which is a great look– not.

      • Mo says:

        Same – 5’3, 114 or so, 36-25-36. Wear 2 pants, 4 for skirts (and tailor) and 2-4 for jackets. I have chicken legs and no waist and this fits me better than Banana/J.Crew/Ann Taylor.

    • Heather says:

      Mixed bag for me. I have 2 blouses, both Theory, the size 8 fits almost too big- the size 12 I’d need a breast reduction for. But the dress I’m wearing today is Theory and fits perfectly- I just had to have the back slit sewn up a bit. I almost bit- but then realized final sale means no returns… and it’s too much of a gamble for me.

  2. Mia says:

    If you’re looking for cheap drug-store make up alternatives and tutorials I highly recommend watching Emily’s youtube films on beautybroadcast.net. She’s great!

    • Maddy says:

      I absolutely second this. One of the most informative, professional, and lovely beauty bloggers/vloggers out there. She’s always honest and uses a great mix of drugstore products.

  3. Leigh says:

    For the first question: I have PCOS, so I am very hairy on my face, upper lip, chin, and neck. I have to do some sort of hair removal about every three days. I found that the easiest, most lasting hair removal was bliss wax strips. I buy the large ones and cut them down to do my face, they’re quick, effective, and relatively painless. I find them on sale at Nordstrom Rack and Marshalls. I never could get the hang of that spring device.

    I tried laser hair removal, and it didn’t work for me. I don’t know if it is because I went to a place that I bought a Groupon to (and they turned the laser down or whatever), or if it just wasn’t a good option for me. I may try again, but it’s expensive to continue to try when it didn’t work…

  4. Saramel says:

    A good option for drugstore makeup is Black Radiance. They’re more pigmented cause they’re designed for women with dark skin. I highly recommend their eye shadows.

  5. Rachel says:

    For strong pigment eye shadows on the cheap, I like L’Oreal HIP (mattes) or Maybelline Color Tattoo. If you like bolder colors, Milani’s Shadow Eyez 12 HR Wear are really beautiful (I own the bright blue, green, purple). Following Temptalia has saved me loads of money. I love how she swatches everything and her reviews are always really thorough.

  6. Monica says:

    IF you have other MAC makeup they have a great recycling program called BACK2MAC. You bring in 6 of your old plastic containers (eg – old eye shadow pots, foundation bottles, etc) and they let you pick one eye shadow or lipstick for free. You can do up to four BACK2MAC exchanges in a visit. Try to do it at a MAC store, not a makeup counter. I think the makeup counters only give you the lipstick option. But its a great way to keep using their eye shadow at lease for FREE!

  7. KRF says:

    Another thought on hair removal. For the past 2 years I transitioned from waxing my eye brows and upper lip to threading and it has been a positive experience. I developed a relationship with the gals at “Brow Art” near my home and my brows continue to remain full and shaped nicely. A great bonus that I discovered, at least for me, is that my time in-between threading is much longer than when I waxed–at least 3 weeks with some minor tweeze clean-up on my end. I still wax my bikini area but am hoping to try out some of the other suggestions per Belle and other readers. Thanks again!

  8. SC says:

    Ooops, originally posted this on the wrong thread. I have the same grey Theory suit, and it’s something about that shade of grey, but it truly does look bad with almost every color. It looks great with navy though, and also navy with light grey or cream polka dots, and light greyish cream accessories. I pretty much exclusively wear it with those colors. Not exciting colors but the outfits look really sleek and classic. I wear it with tops that have bows or other soft accessories to make it look feminine.

  9. Anon says:

    For what to wear with grey, you may get some ideas from this post at The Vivienne Files looking at combinations of three neutrals: https://theviviennefiles.blogspot.de/2013/11/three-neutral-colors-amazing-range-of.html

  10. Victoria says:

    Wet’n’Wild has surprisingly good quality/pigmented eyeshadows and bluhes. The “Walking on Eggshells” eye trio is actually a dupe for several MAC shadows – Naked Lunch, Satin Taupe, and something else…EmilyNoel83 talks about it on YouTube. The Maybelline color tattoos are also AMAZING, and so are the Revlon lip butters! HTH!

  11. Gabriela says:

    My cheapie solution to avoid buying cover-ups: keep your lovingly worn casual sundresses to throw on over swimsuits. Every year I go through my closet and pull out the cotton dresses that have seen better days (fading, a bit of stretching…nothing stained or with holes!), and use those as cover-ups for the summer. They’re pieces I already love, but I don’t worry about getting sunscreen or sand on them!

  12. Jessica says:

    For make up – try stepping into the indie make up scene (but don’t get too carried away!) it’s usually loose pigments but you can press it yourself. A lot of indie brands sell “sample” baggies which last a REALLY long time and are in the $1-$5 range.

    Coastal Scents brushes and eyeshadows are my HG. Brushes often go on sale and they sell sets. Eyeshadow usually goes on sale for 99 cents a pop or they have those giant 252 color palettes as long as you use primer or a base like NYX Milk, you’re going to see bold, long lasting results. 🙂

  13. SC says:

    Also want to comment on the Theory sizing issues. I just buy a much larger size than usual to fit my hips and have it tailored in at the waist. For the sheath dresses, I wear them with a belt. I like Theory suits because the jackets have such a nice cut.

  14. E says:

    Belle, thanks for answering my question! I appreciate your help and I really like your suggestions.

    I agree with the rest of the readers – Theory’s bottoms definitely fit tight in the hips. Glad I purchased the pants and not the pencil skirt – recently tried it on and its loose in the waist and pulls at the thighs.

  15. Colleen says:

    Thank you so much for the Bliss recommendation. I bought it last night, used it this morning, and am a total convert at this point! I never would have even considered it without reading about it here.

  16. Yet Another Heather says:

    L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows are amazingly pigmented. Somewhere between a pressed and powder consistency, and the payoff is amazing. Wet & Wild is my favorite drugstore brand- the blushes and eyeshadows (Silent Treatment Palette has a dupe for Satin Taupe) and great. I think MAC quality is pretty hit or miss, you can find much better for much cheaper.

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