Hi Pretties! Last week was a wild card week on Coffee Chat! I try to rotate topics regularly to include style, beauty and personal development. Every once and awhile I’ll throw in a wildcard week where you can ask me anything. Last week I posted in our Get Your Pretty On Pretties Facebook group, which if you’re not in there yet, you need to go join now because it is an awesome group. There’s all kinds of conversations going on in there about style and beauty and summer, you name it, we talk about it. Check it out here. As I was saying, I put out the question for everyone in there to ask me anything and I got some great questions to answer. We’ve got some style questions, particularly summer style questions, self-tanner questions, beauty questions and I’m going to answer those today! For more details on my answers, click my Coffee Chat video below.
Let’s get right to the questions!
I need to invest in all new makeup brushes and I need to find the perfect black t-shirts (they are my uniform) and Target stopped making my go-to favorites. ~ Jennifer
Hands down my favorite makeup brushes that I have ever owned are from IT Cosmetics. They make the most amazing makeup brushes ever. If you’re going to invest in a good set of makeup brushes that are going to last you then go with IT Cosmetics Makeup Brushes. Also, when investing in good brushes, you don’t have to buy them all at once. Start with one that’s multi-purpose or one that you’re going to use the most and build your collection from there.
If you’re looking for something a little bit more budget-friendly and you don’t want to make a huge investment, Amazon has a lot of great brush sets. EcoTools is another great brand of brushes that are very budget-friendly and are well made and super soft.
Recently we polled all of the members of the GYPO community and asked them what their favorite white t-shirts were and in those brands there are definitely black t-shirts that are going to be really good quality, too. The number one top brand was Land’s End’s Supima Cotton T-Shirt Crewneck and V-neck. Second up was Target’s A New Day brand of t-shirts. They have a really nice black t-shirt there, too. And Amazon Essentials, if you had to check those out yet, I’ve heard amazing things about them. Eddie Bauer also was mentioned and J.Crew Factory is another good source for a great black t-shirt.
Land’s End’s Supima Cotton T-Shirt Crewneck
I’ve had a lifelong struggle with very athletic legs. I’m relatively thin but certainly not proportioned the way most women are. Don’t get me wrong I love my Curves and my athletic legs. They serve me well. I just can never find skinny jeans that actually work. I also have a longer torso and shorter legs. I’m not tall 5 foot 5. Any recommendations? ~ Cheryl
Again, I went to the community on this a few weeks ago and we asked our GYOP Pretties to vote for their top rated white skinny jeans but this could definitely apply across the board. Loft has great skinny jeans that are curvy so those may be an option to check out. They work great for women that aren’t too tall. Also, Madewell had really high marks and they have a lot of different fits. Old Navy was another reader favorite. Their rock star jeans have a lot of stretch in them. If you’re looking for something that’s going to stretch over athletic thighs or calves, then Old Navy rock star jeans are going to be good for that. Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (NYDJ) got really high marks as well and they also have several different fits that you can find one that works for you. And finally, Talbots also has a high rise jegging that has a lot of stretch and also works really, really well.
Loft Curvy Slim Pocket Skinny Jeans
It’s that time of year again! I am very fair-skinned so sunscreen is a MUST. I have recently started using self-tanner on my legs and would love tips on how to avoid streaks? My tanner is over a year old is that ok? Do other pretties just do certain body parts too? How often do I need to reapply? And how do I make my fake tan last longer? ~Lisa
I consider myself a self-tanning expert. I’ve been using self-tanners for many years. I try to avoid the sun as much as possible, especially now that I’m over 40 because I get lots of little age spots on my face. I even get them when I’m driving in the car so daily sunscreen is a must! My favorite tips for self-tanners are:
- Exfoliate – Make sure you exfoliate well in the shower because if you get most of the dead skin cells off, your tan will last longer.
- Moisturize – Keep your skin well moisturized. A lot of self-tanners can dry your skin out so when you’re done in the shower, gently pat dry leaving some water behind and moisturize!
- Use Tanning Mitt – Apply tanner with a tanning mitt. This is something you can pick up at Amazon or Ulta or maybe even Target. You’re going to put that over your hands and then apply the tanner to the tanning mitt and then spread light, thin layers on your skin working in small sections. This will help it go on more evenly and smoothly and will keep your palm from getting overly tan.
As far as brands are concerned, I like Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Lotion. I used that one for years. It’s great for building up over time. However, I really like the St. Tropez brand. It’s a bit pricier but it lasts forever and I think the tan lasts a long time too. I recommend applying it every day for a few days until you build up to the level that you want to be at. Then, you’re going to take a break and you’re going to moisturize after you get out of the shower for a few days to make it last longer and then start the cycle over again when it starts to fade. Be sure to exfoliate before you start your application cycle over so you get the old tanner off before applying new tanner.
Best place for undies and bras – especially if you have been blessed with being bigger on top. ~Kathy
I highly recommend Soma and all of our Pretties who have tried Soma absolutely love them. They have the most comfortable bras and undies out there. For a runner up, for me personally, I love Target for bras and panties too. Their Auden line is amazing. They have the cutest patterns and colors, comfy undies and bras. I get a lot of my bralettes there. I highly recommend them and they are really reasonably priced.
Minimal makeup for summer. What can you get by with but still look pretty? ~ Rebecca
I like to cut back on my makeup in the summer, too. I don’t like a full face of makeup every day. It just feels too heavy and when I’m sweating a lot, it doesn’t make much sense. The one thing that I do use every single day is my IT Cosmetics CC plus cream. This has SPF 50 plus blocks, both UVA and UVB. I was talking earlier about how we still get sun even when we’re driving in the car. All of my age spots and dark spots are on the left side of my face, and I know that’s because of driving through the years, because I do try to be really, really vigilant about applying sunscreen on a daily basis. This stuff works amazing. I wear it at the beach if I’m not going to be getting my face wet. This stuff is a miracle worker.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC plus Illumination Cream
I would at a minimum apply my CC plus cream on a daily basis. Sometimes I put a little bit of power on top of that to set it, especially in my oil prone areas, then lightly apply a little bit of bronzer if you want to give yourself that sunkissed glow then add a champagne eye shadow on the lids. I am a big proponent for having either mascara or my false eyelashes on every single day. When I wear falsies I use the Kiss brand and the style is number eleven. I get them at Walgreen’s and CVS and I apply them with the black lash glue so it gives me that look of having a little bit of eyeliner on my top lids. Add a little bit of lip gloss to finish it off if you’re feeling extra fancy.
Should you wear skinny jeans if you have large calves. And what is a good jean to get. Some just don’t fit. Also What is a good sunscreen for your lips? Maybe with a little color. ~Ann
Earlier I talked about the Loft Curvy Jean. I think that those work great if you have a larger calf. Another one with a lot of stretch is Old Navy’s Rockstar jeans. They’re going to stretch over larger calves a little bit better than some of these other skinny jeans out there.
Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm, which they sell at most drug stores or retailers like Target and Walmart. They have 15 SPF and come in a bunch of different tinted shades so you can look stylish at the beach and the pool.
Sum Bum Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 in Sunset Cove
What are the jewelry rules? Like, what kind of jewelry goes with what kind of neckline? When is a long necklace better to choose over a short one? Can you mix silver and gold? ~Gail
There are some really cool little infographics that you can find on Pinterest that will show you different types of necklines and different necklaces that go with them, which is going to be way better than anything that I’m going to describe. The below graphic is one that I like.
My own personal jewelry rules are that you don’t want to do statement with statement. You can either do statement earrings with a delicate necklace. You can do statement earrings with a longer necklace as long as it’s away from your face. If you have a pendant necklace on, then you can definitely do a statement earring with that, or you can do delicate earrings with a delicate necklace or delicate earrings with a statement necklace.
The longer your necklace, the more it’s going to elongate your frame. If you’re wearing a loose, floaty tank, then you may want to elongate your frame with that longer necklace. A shorter necklace or statement earrings are going to draw your eye up so think about those rules when you’re choosing your accessories.
The question about mixing silver and gold. Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact, mixed metals is really on trend. Don’t worry about those rules anymore. My wedding rings are silver. I wear gold all the time. I have gold on my Apple Watch band and sometimes I mix rose gold with that. So those rules no longer apply. You can definitely mix metals till your little heart’s content.
Cosmetic dermatology for aging skin. I’m 30 at heart, but my skin at 48 does not reflect my youthful outlook! ~Kristin
Over the past few years, I’ve tried out a lot of different products. There are a few that I get really consistent results from. The number one product that I recommend if you’re just getting into starting some anti-aging products is the Rock Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. I’ve been using this stuff for years and it’s honestly one of the things that makes a huge difference. It takes about six weeks to start seeing results, but once you do, you’re hooked. Trust me on this and it also helps with the dark spots that I have on my cheeks, too. Use a pea-size amount at night before bed and cover your whole face. If you have sensitive skin, which I do, I can’t change up products very often. I can’t do really harsh products for my anti-aging skincare routine. I recommend doing this every other night until you build up a tolerance to it or even go every 2-3 nights if you need to. Eventually, you’ll be able to use it on a nightly basis as I do now. This gives my skin a really nice glow and keeps it hydrated. I don’t experience dryness, redness, or flaking as you might from a prescription-strength product.
Rock Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
Then for the day again, I’m going back to my IT Cosmetics CC plus cream which is loaded with lots of anti-aging skincare ingredients, too. That’s one thing I love about IT Cosmetics. This is also an illumination product so it’s going to give your skin a nice glow, too.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC plus Illumination cream
Lastly, exfoliate. Definitely exfoliate at least twice a week because our skin cells tend to turn over less as we get older. We’ve got to help that process along by exfoliating the dead skin cells off. That’s also going to give you a lot more glow. As far as an exfoliator, I recommend, I use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I’ve been using that stuff since I was a teenager and it works great.
Opinions on lengths of pants and shorts. A lot of people are posting photos of capri/cropped pants but I’ve often heard that they make you look shorter and to go for full length or ankle pants. Do capris work for most women or should the in general be avoided? Also same questions for shorts- what lengths (inseam measurememts) are most flattering? ~Erin
One of the things that I recommend always is that the selfie doesn’t lie. If you’re trying something on in a fitting room and you’re unsure if it looks good then take a selfie because it’s not going to lie. If you’re not a good judge for yourself then send that picture to one of your friends or to your teenage daughter and ask them, because they will be honest with you. Remember to take in several different lengths with you and this especially applies to shorts. I think a lot of us tend to think we know what shorts will look good on us, but sometimes you might be surprised. What you thought you “shouldn’t” wear actually looks the most flattering on you and if that’s the case then it’s a heck yes! Sometimes petite or shorter ladies like myself, I’m 5’4″, tend to think that the longer shorts are going to be more flattering to us when in reality, the shorter short might be. I tend to go for around a five-inch length short and that seems to be the most flattering length for me. Sometimes I’ll add a little bit of a heel on my sandal if I feel like it’s going to make it look a little bit better. As far as capri length pants, wearing them can be tricky but you can try wearing something with a little heel instead of a flat for a more flattering look.
Best no show socks for ballet flats. And they stay on your feet and not slide off heel. ~Ann
I love the no show socks from Target. They have a little rubber thingy on the back and they do not slide off your feet. I buy the cotton ones. They have a lot of cute prints and patterns. My daughters wear them, too. You can also get the more nylon version of them, however I’m not as big of a fan of those. They just cover the toe and then the heel and the little rubber thingy keeps them from slipping down.
Throw in some fitness! ~Emily
I don’t know if I’m the role model for fitness right now. I’m just going to be totally honest. Since OrangeTheory closed their studios, I’ve been on the struggle bus a little bit. I have been trying to do a combination of things at home. Number one, I doing the Orangetheory at home workouts. I’m not going to lie, they kick my butt. Those are made mostly of weights and a lot of cardio like Burpees and jumping jacks. These workouts are perfect if you don’t have a lot of equipment. I’ve also been doing the Peloton Treadmill workouts since I got a treadmill for Mother’s Day. If you have a treadmill and some basic rudimentary pieces of equipment this would work for you. I think it’s free for 90 days and you can choose the workouts that you want to do and there you can do interval training or endurance or whatever you want. They have tons of awesome workouts in there. Recently I also started going on Reddit and finding old Orangetheory workouts to do at home. There are some really good workouts in there. I also recommend my friend Rebecca Louise’s Burn app. She’s got some great workouts in there and they cover all body parts and there are different workouts every day. So check out the Burn as well.
Favorite tank tops? It’s hot in central Texas and I often wear a tank top with skirts or shorts. Do you have any go-to tanks? ~Erin
J.Crew Factory brand is my go-to for fitted tank tops. If I’m looking for a slouchy tank, then I always go to Target. They have really good slouchy tank tops and ribbed tank tops as well as Wal-Mart. I always go for the basics when I buy my tank tops. Amazon Essentials also has some really great tank tops and they have great reviews.
Do you have any fitness apps you like? ~Amy
Yes. Peloton, Orangetheory and the Burn app. All three of those I highly recommend.
Cute summer pj’s… for the more mature generation. ~Sheryl
I struggled with this, Sheryl. I really did. Soma has some cute PJs and Target. I keep going back to those two, but it’s true, I’ve had great luck with both places for P J’s that are comfortable and the shorts aren’t super short.
I’m having difficulty finding plus size swimsuits…I like the ones with skirt bottoms but they are a bit too short for my comfort. Are there longer ones available…or am I just searching for unicorns? ~Debrah
Lands End has some great plus-sized swimsuits with longer skirts. They have lots of one-piece and two-piece versions of those. If you’re looking for those, that’s a good resource.
1. Workout outfits that are cute without breaking the bank. 2. SWIMSUITS! How do I apply the bodyshape rules to swimsuits? ~Isabel
I swear by Fabletics. I have been ordering their workout clothes for years. I have a membership and I know a lot of you are like, oh, I don’t want to do the membership. I get it. I do. I hate memberships. But the cool thing is you can skip a month and I skip probably 10 months out of the year and order two months out of the year whenever I need to refresh my workout collection. I love their Mila Capris, they are amazing! They have pockets on the sides and they are super comfortable. They are also really, really well-made and great quality. Amazon Essentials make great workout clothes. Go on there and look at the reviews. We’ve had a lot of Pretties who have recommended yoga pants and their tanks and their shorts. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly, definitely check out Amazon.
As far as swimsuits are concerned, one of the bonuses for the Outfit Formulas™ Summer 2020 Capsule Wardrobe is a body shape swimwear guide so if you signed up for that you received the guide. I’m going to share with you a couple of things from the guide and if you don’t know your body shape, you can figure it out with my free Body Shape guide. Download it here.
Triangle
If you’re a triangle body shape you’re going to look for things with eye-catching details on the top or unique necklines to draw the attention up. Try a plunging neckline for the daring wow factor or you can do a fine print or color or pattern on the top half and maybe do black bottoms. You’re going to want to avoid extra fabric or coverage around your hips and bottom because that’s only going to draw attention to that area. If you’re thinking of wearing a skirt or having some extra fabric in that area is going to camouflage, what is going to actually do is draw the attention down. Look for things like ruffles across the top or a high neck tankini top or something with some interesting details, like a one-shoulder bikini top or a halter, one-piece monokini.
Inverted Triangle
If you’re an inverted triangle, you’re going to want to look for eye-catching tops to draw attention away from tummy and wide waist. Ruffles around your waist are going to add volume, but they can also be great for hiding unwanted bulges. If you’re feeling bold, you can highlight the curve of your hips for pattern bottoms or side type details. You’re gonna want to avoid attention seeking colors or patterns around your midriff. If you have wide shoulders, avoid strapless or spaghetti strap designs. So again, high necks are going to be your friend. Color blocking on the top half, ruffled bikini set that’s going to draw the eye up toward the shoulders or a V-neck bikini.
Rectangle
Rectangles are going to look for a monokini suit to create the illusion of curves or a suit with a belt detail to make your waist look slimmer. Your shape is well balanced so pretty much any swimsuits gonna look good on your figure, lucky girl! If you’re feeling bold, you can do high cut bottoms or a tie side bikini bottom that’s going to enhance your shape and embellish your natural figure. You’re going to avoid square or boxy necklines if you’re a rectangle. Also, avoid boy shorts because you want to add curves, not reduce them.
Hourglass
For hourglass shapes, you’re going to look for a high cut hip or a plunging neckline to lengthen your legs and emphasize your natural curves. Ruffles or similar details on the bottom will also highlight your hourglass shape. If you’re feeling bold, you can do a side cut monokini that’s going to maximize your curvaceous shape. You’re going to want to avoid mixing prints in two piece suits because it can throw off your well-balanced figure. High cut, plunging bikini sets are going to look great on you and side cut swimsuits are also going to look awesome.
If you would like shopping links and some additional guidance, then you can definitely get that free bonus if you sign up for the Outfit Formulas ™ Summer 2020 Capsule Wardrobe.
