{beauty board} lift those locks!

Score va-va voom tresses with these 5 products guaranteed
to lift locks and restore life to limp strands.

1} Oscar Blandi Hair Lift Thickening & Strengthening Mousse A teeny tiny dollop inflates hair {in all the right places} giving you a full, thick feel. Want more lift? Style with a round brush and blowdryer after application.

2} Ojon Volume Advance Thickening Spray 8 - 10 spritzes pumps up the volume of flat hair, while adding touchable, bouncy texture and shine!

3} Bumble and bumble. Thickening Full Form Mousse Towel-dry hair, run a wide-tooth comb through, rub a quarter-size amount on your roots, blow dry, and voila! Perfect, straight-from-the-salon volume. Bonus: Massage a nickel-sized amount into roots, and finger comb to create volumized updos on dry hair or second-day strands.

4} Living Proof 'Full' Body Boosting Root Lifting Spray for All Hair Types Effortlessly lifts hair at the roots, and keeps it looking beauty queen beautiful {never frizzy} in rain, shine, or the dreaded by hair the world over...humidity!

5} ALTERNA Bamboo Volume Uplifting Root Blast 3 - 4 sprays coupled with a few mosh-worthy back and forth hair flips creates an insane amount of volume for days {yes, days}. Bonus: Out of dry shampoo? No problem. This product is just as effective at absorbing oil and giving lift.

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

FTC Disclosure: Oscar Blandi's Hair Lift Thickening & Strengthening Mousse was provided to me for review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

NOTD: Essie Cascade Cool

Two coats of Essie Cascade Cool. A Creamy, Sweet Dusty Pink.

I feel as if I’m on a never-ending hunt for the perfect Barbie pink {as are a number of my friends}, but the search is over because this. is. it.

Lighter than Revlon's Flirt, and more pink-toned than mark's Cupcake, Cascade Cool is a blue-based pink that morphs seamlessly from spring-perfect pastel to beach-ready bright.

Like Bikini So Teeny {its collection sibling}, application for Cascade Cool was incredible - two perfectly opaque coats with no streaking, no pooling, and no bubbling. This color earned me countless inquiries from strangers - definitely a conversation-starter.

What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

Follow me on Instagram @cafefashionista to see more of my favorite nail colors / art.

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

{beauty board} ballerina nails

Let your fingers do the dancing with elegant nail colors
inspired by the beauty of ballet.

Clockwise from left.

♥Layla Caviar Effect Nail Polish in Ballet
♥Essie Ballet Slippers
♥ELLE Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Tutu
♥Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 167 Ballerina
♥Forever 21 Ballet Shoes Nail Polish
♥Rescue Beauty Lounge Plie
♥NARS Arabesque
♥OPI My Pointe Exactly
♥Venique Nail Lacquer Pointe to Ballet
♥SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour Let's Plie

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

get fit fashion {albionfit review + giveaway}!

Not a single day goes by where I don't dance or workout {usually both},
so, while I do love my heels and skinny jeans, I tend to incorporate
fitnesswear into my daily wardrobe - yoga pants, fitted racerbacks, lightweight
off-the-shoulder tops; thus, when I'm shopping for workout clothing,
I try to make cute choices that allow me to show off both sides of my personality...
the fashionista and the dancer / semi-fitness freak lover.
So my introduction to ALBION, a company that specializes in women's
fitness and swimwear, has been all sorts of epic.

ALBION manages to bridge the gap between sporty and chic, delivering a
wide array of colors {ballet pink, anyone?} and styles that look
just as glam in a dance studio or at the gym, as they do at a chic
bistro for Sunday brunch.

I was lucky enough to receive the 26.2 Jacket in Coral {P.S. gorgeous color},
and in the last week alone, it has been styled as the topper for my leotard
{ballet}; kept me looking long and lean during countless cardio sessions;
and served as my stylish cha cha partner. The slim fit is
ultra-flattering; but what I love the most is the bright color and
resiliency which makes movement incredibly comfortable.

And now for what I think all of you will love...the chance to
win a 26.2 Jacket of your own!

Cafe Fashionista has partnered with ALBION to bring one {1} lucky
reader their own 26.2 Jacket {in Coral, White, Teal, or Black} -
a $98.00 Value!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck everyone!

In the meantime...if you want to do a little shopping, now through 5/22/13,
save $15.00 on all orders of $50.00 or more with
coupon code CAFEFASHIONISTA15.

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

FTC Disclosure: This product was provided to me for review by ALBION. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

kick-start your summer with keds!

I don't think it's possible to get more All-American than Keds.
They are, essentially, the footwear version of Apple Pie. And, like apple pie,
they basically go with everything - especially during
the spring / summer months {mine tend to spend
a lot of time hanging out with cutoff denim shorts,
simple dresses, and cotton rompers}.
So, of course, the new Champion Summer collection, has left me
a bit obsessed. After all, Memorial Day is a week away,
and each and every one of these styles would be so. perfect
to celebrate in!

Champion Summer {clockwise from top}: Champion Summer in Lavender + Champion Summer in Light Yellow + Champion Summer in Cherry Pink + Champion Summer in Cloud Blue + Champion Summer in Peach + Champion Summer in Lemon Lime

Are you a fan of Keds? Which color would you wear for Memorial Day?

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

{fashion folio} bohemian beach

Ancient Greek Sandals Alethea Flat Sandals in Natural + Citrine By the Stones Varo Ring + Melissa Odabash Coleene Knitted Cotton-Blend Top + Essie Sand Tropez + Wouters & Hendrix 14 Stack Bracelet Set in Gold / Horn + Gucci Snake-Print Triangle Bikini
The sandy shore of the beach is just as much a catwalk come summertime as it is a location for catching a few rays. As such, it requires C-H-I-C. Chic. We’re talking fringe, tatters, and sandy hues a la a knit top that allows your swimsuit to peek through, with a hemline that hits just below the bum to show off a little leg. Think Brooke Shields as Emmeline Lestrange in Blue Lagoon.

Keep the earthy, beachy vibe going with a neutral suit in a subtle print {snakeskin is my go to}, coupled with strappy, crisscross flat sandals {in Natural, of course}. A hodgepodge of stackable bracelets ranging from gold to horn hues paired with a chunky, conversation-worthy asymmetrical ring boost the bohemian factor of your look; while a nude polish on tips and toes serves as the perfect finishing touch to your sandy style.

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

there's a {fashion + beauty} app for that!

My iPhone? Yeah, it basically never. leaves. my. side.
We're talking take-it-everywhere-I-go-and-
sneak-peeks-at-the-screen-as-often-as-possible status here.
One of the main reasons I have such a strong connection to
my phone {http://www.phones4u.co.uk/}?
Apps.

Instagram is my virtual home-away-from-home; Twitter
is like my lifeline; and Facebook? Not gonna lie...
I check it daily. But some of my favorite apps fall into the category of
fashion and beauty {no surprise there, right?}.
And...I'm about to introduce you to them.
You. Will. Love. Trust.

BERGDORF GOODMAN Today's Shoe App

POSE Fashion + Beauty App

MANI DIARIES Nail App

STYLEBOOK Closet + Wardrobe Fashion App

FOREVER 21 Shopping + Fashion App

What are some of your favorite fashion + beauty apps?

x

Instagram / Tumblr / Twitter

FTC Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with phones4u. All opinions expressed herein are my own.