Stephie Estie

Liebster Awards 1 and 2!

liebster

Hi everyone!  Hope your weekend is going great and that you all had a lovely Christmas! 🙂

I was nominated for two Liebster Awards by Katie from Plus Beauty and Chanelle Hayley .  I’m truly touched and grateful that they thought of me as they both have amazing blogs so if you’re not following them yet, head on over there and follow them. 🙂  I decided to incorporate both awards here as opposed to having two separate posts but I will answer both sets of questions given.

 The Rules

  1. Post the award on your blog.
  2. Thank the blogger who presented this award and link back to their blog.
  3. Write 5 random facts about yourself.
  4. Nominate 5 bloggers (they should have less than 3000 followers)
  5. Answer 5 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 5 questions. 

 

5 Random Facts About Myself

  1. I straightened my hair chemically for about 8 years
  2. My favorite color is red
  3. One of my favorite books is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
  4. I used to practice calligraphy- so elegant
  5. I find ballroom dancing fascinating

5 Blog Nominees 

theworldofcos.wordpress.com

beautybybrookeleanne.wordpress.com

janandjot.wordpress.com

avoninsiderblog.wordpress.com

amysbeautydiary.com

Questions from Chanelle

  1. What is your favourite holiday and why?

I would have to say Christmas because I get to spend time with all of my family that has a great holiday spirit, whether we are having an ugly sweater contest, decorating silly hats, eating delicious food and desserts, or finding elves on shelves.  Throw in Christmas lights and music (yes, I do love me some Christmas tunes) and it’s the best time of the year- minus of course all the traffic, rude people, etc.

  1. What was the last movie you watched?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas- love that movie along with Elf!

  1. Who’s your celebrity crush?

Michael Buble, John Stamos and Johnny Depp to name a few. 🙂

  1. A fashion trend you’ve never understood?

Ugg boots.  No offense to anyone who loves them but I just don’t see what all the hype is about.

  1. Do you have any highlights of 2014?

I was able to meet and assist celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau!

 

Questions (Katie)

  1. Besides blogging, what are your other hobbies/passions?

I love to dance!  It’s such a great outlet that is both fun and creative.  I also love to read and research different topics on beauty, science and health.  Yes, I am a geek. 🙂

  1. Why did you start blogging?

Starting my blog provided me with a larger platform to share what I know/have learned about skincare and makeup and to help people with any concerns they had.  There is a plethora of information circulating the internet and unfortunately some of it isn’t accurate.

  1. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

Well my name is Stephanie and I am an esthetician so you get Stephie Estie.  I think it’s catchy, it rhymes and is easy to remember.  (In case you didn’t know how to pronounce Estie, think of it as saying the letters ‘S’ and ‘T’)

  1. What is your next goal in life?

Aside from obtaining more experience in the esthetics field, I am working on completing 100 hours of post-graduate education at the International Dermal Institute.  In the future, I would also love to create my own skincare/makeup line.

  1. Who/What inspires you most?

This is a tough one as there are so many people who inspire me.  All of you lovely bloggers inspire me with your creative posts,my readers and their awesome questions or concerns, people who work relentlessly towards their goals, and my mother.  She is one of the strongest persons I know because she has been through so much yet somehow manages to maintain a positive attitude.

5 Questions For My Nominees

1.  What inspired you to write your blog?

2.  If you could pick one high end makeup brand to try, which one would it be and why?

3.  What do you hope to accomplish in 2015?

4.  What is one staple item you couldn’t live without?

5.  What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?

So there’s another post sharing a little bit more insight on me. 🙂

Thanks for reading, 

Stephanie 

 

My Current Products for Curly Hair!

Hair Products

 

Hi readers!  How was your weekend?  Mine was spent celebrating one of my sister’s birthday and shopping for Christmas gifts. 🙂

Today’s post is on hair care, especially those with curls.  Awhile back, my hair was a dry, frizzy mess.  Nothing I used seemed to work anymore and I found that the only way for my hair to look good was to throw it up in a bun.  Don’t get me wrong, a bun style is great but when it becomes your only option, it’s both frustrating and boring.  So, I decided to seek some help and visited my local beauty supply store.  The lady there was super helpful and knowledgeable, and after assessing my hair, she gave me her recommendations on products. Now. I am not an expert on hair nor am I claiming to be one however, I thought I’d share what I’ve been using.

Shampoo

Since curly hair is dry by nature, using a shampoo that is sulfate-free or low suds is the way to go.  Mastey Paris Traite Shampoo Sulfate-Free Moisturizing Creme Hair Cleanser (For Normal to Dry Hair) smells like coconut, cleanses without stripping your hair and protects color treated hair.

Also, since I recently colored my hair red, I use Tressa Watercolors Color Maintenance Shampoo in Fluid Fire.  I use it about once a week as it’s a gentle, tinted shampoo that helps enrich my red hue.

 

Shampoo

Conditioner

For conditioner, I use Macadamia Nut Oil Deep Repair Masque in the shower and Enjoy Leave-In Conditioner when I am combing my hair.

Conditioner

Styling Products 

After detangling my hair and applying a leave-in condtioner, I use ColorProof TruCurl Curl Perfecting Creme.  This really helps define my curls.  Also, sometimes I use a very small amount of Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Mousse.  I know many have told me that this mousse isn’t ideal, but this is the only one that works for me so far.

Normally, I just use the above mentioned products and let air dry.  Every now and then though, I use a curling wand to create looser curls.  For this, I am really loving Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray.  I purchased the travel sized version as Oribe’s products can be pricey, but I must say this product is well worth it.

Styling Products

Here is an older picture of my finished look.  You can find other pictures of me and my hair on other posts/Instagram.

Curl Look

 

Taking care of curly hair requires a little extra effort but when you use the right products and understand its needs, it’s well worth it. 🙂

What hair products work for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Tuesday,

Stephanie 

Christmas Guide List!

Hi readers!  I hope your weekend was great!  Mine was a bit busy and I am still trying to catch up on all your great posts. 🙂

I’ve seen a lot of great posts on Christmas ideas and wishlists and that prompted me to create a list of my own so if you’re still looking for his and her gifts, check out my list below!

Sephora Favorites Cologne Sampler

This set has 12 (small) samples of some of popular men’s fragrances and included in the set is a ‘scent certificate’ that can be presented at any US Sephora store to redeem a full-sized bottle of the preferred featured fragrance!

Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip

The six-piece lip sampler is a nice brand selection of lip products that feature Marc Jacobs, Bite Beauty, Urban Decay, Nars, Buxom and Smashbox.  Their is a nice array of colors that is sure to complement any beauty look this season an beyond.

Flavor Infuser Water Bottle

Maybe not the most glamorous gift, but I love the concept of infusing water with your favorite fruits or herbs.  Perfect for anyone looking to stay healthy and hydrated all year long and environmentally friendly as the bottle is made from glass.

*Note: Although the product pictured below is from Uncommon Goods, similar products can be found at Target or Walmart. 

 

Cube HD Digital Video Action Camera Camcorder

A unique product for the adventurer, this weatherproof, shockproof and mountable camcorder features a base with a “strong built-in magnet, letting you snap it onto your skateboard, car roof or any other metal surface, and a line of accessories lets you mount it on a helmet, bike or strap. Splash-proof construction means you can take it wakeboarding or waterskiing, and the waterproof case lets you shoot under the waves.”

 

Minted Chalkboard Dreams Day Planner or Notebook

I saw a blog post that Katie from Plus Beauty shared about Minted (thank you Katie!)and I thought this would make a great personalized gift!  In a nutshell, this website let’s you customize and personalize anything from journals to business cards to thank you cards and beyond!  I especially love the idea of having a personalized day planner with inspiring quotes!

minted day planner

minted.com; $16-$26

 

Renee Rouleau Merry Berry Smoothing Peel

A holiday 1 oz exclusive of the popular Triple Berry Smoothing Peel, this great exfoliating treatment consists of enzymes and several fruit acids such as mandelic, lactic, salicylic, tartaric and malic for a sweet skin treat that will leave skin soft and glowing. A personal fave of mine!

merry berry

reneerouleau.com; $40.50

Jack Black ‘Dream Team’ Facial Care Set

Another great (and simple!) set from men’s skincare brand Jack Black.  Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser is ideal for oily skin types and Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 provides a lightweight hydration and protection.

Nest Moroccan Amber Classic Candle

Candles are always great to have and this one doesn’t disappoint.  Scented with Moroccan amber, sweet patchouli, heliotrope and bergamot and accented with a hint of eucalyptus, this candle provides a subtle yet luxurious scent that is sure to infuse your home with a long-lasting and relaxing fragrance that may just make you or your guests never want to leave home.

Hopefully this guide is helpful in giving you ideas for possible Christmas gifts.  What’s on your list?  

Thanks for reading,

Stephanie 

Weekend Wrap Up!

Me and my family

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and a hopefully a not too hectic weekend.  🙂  I’m super thankful to have such an amazing family in my life and pictured above are some of the best ones:  mom, one of my sisters and my little ‘twin’. I was lucky enough to have a four day weekend and basically it was a bit of relaxing, eating, taking advantage of some of the sales going on (I have a few shipments heading my way so I’ll be sharing soon), cleaning and attending a workshop.  Oh, and I dyed my hair red which I absolutely love but when I take a shower, I feel like it’s a re-enactment of the famous Psycho shower scene as I watch my red hair dye stream down the drain.

On Saturday, I attended a Vision Board Workshop with Danielle Cuccio from Cuccio Somatology.  If you’re ever in LA and want to take a fun yoga class with an awesome playlist, this is the place to go.   WorkshopHere is a glimpse of my unfinished board.  I had pictures that I wanted to incorporate into the board but they were too big.  Whoops.
Vision Board

 

The concept of this to to outline what you want to achieve in life, with each section corresponding to a particular theme.  For instance, the left hand bottom corner (blue) represents Self Growth and Spirituality, while the middle section (yellow) represents Health and Home.  I picked out pictures of what I want to work on or obtain in life, as well as some inspiring quotes that I love.  One of my favorites has to do with helping people and it states,

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

I know I’ve mentioned it before (and this probably won’t be the last) that I love helping people and this quote really encompasses the way I feel.  Heck, I started this blog so that I can share my knowledge with others and hopefully in turn help them feel confident in their own skin.  It’s a gratifying experience to be able to make someone smile. 🙂

One of the categories I enjoyed the most was the Travel section.  Of course I have pictures of Paris, Italy and NYC.  I have been to NYC before and I loved every moment but I have always had a dream to go during the holiday season.  Christmas decorations!  Ice skating! Snow!  Call me crazy and maybe I’ve been watching too many movies but it just kind of looks magical.

Although I know that God sometimes has something else in store for our lives, this is a great way to really look deep into ourselves and figure out who we are, what kind of person we want to be and map out what goals we want to work on.

Have you ever done a vision board?  What are you working towards in 2015 and beyond?  

Stay warm and safe in this rainy weather,

Stephanie  

Happy Thanksgiving!

happy thanksgiving

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and to say…

Thank you all SO MUCH for your support!  I feel extremely blessed to have a great network of supportive family, friends and all the new friends I am able to connect with through this platform.  I am truly grateful to all who carve out a little bit of time out of their day to read my posts-it means the world! 🙂

With Gratitude, 

Stephanie

 

'This or That' Tag Post!

Hi readers!  I know I usually have a post on Tuesday but some things came up… and you know how that goes.  I decided to do a quick post that the lovely The World of Cos tagged me in over the weekend.  Thank you Cos so much for tagging me and if you haven’t already, head on over to her blog for some great beauty posts!

This is just a fun post where you can learn a little bit about me and vice versa.  It’s always nice to learn something new. 🙂

This or That Tag Rules:

  1. State who tagged  you (provide link) Answer all the questions
  2. Select one ‘This or That’ question for all your subbies to answer
  3. Tag 4 people to answer ALL the this or that questions on their blogs (provide links)… They say you really get to know people when they’re put in tight situations. Today’s “This or That” is going to do just that!”

Bloggers feel free to do this post on your own if I don’t tag you and readers, feel free to comment and share as well!

Tagged Blogs

Here are the blogs I tagged.

I hope you choose to accept this tag but no worries if you don’t want to.

Question for all my readers to answer #4

Questions

Beauty

1.  Blush or Bronzer? Blush- more color choices!

2. Eyeliner or Mascara? Mascara as I feel it opens up my eyes

3. Foundation or Concealer? Foundation so I can even out my skintone

4. Lipgloss or Lipstick? Lipgloss for sure as you can color and moisture

5. Neutral or color Shadow? Neutral as it can work for many looks/occasions

6. Sponges or Brushes? Brushes

Nails

7. OPI or China Glaze? OPI hands down.  They last a long time and the names they come up with? Genius

8. Acrylic or Natural? Natural

9. Long or Short? Short but not too short

10. Brights, Darks, or Neutrals? Depends on my mood.

Body

11. Perfumes or Mists? Perfumes

12. Lotion or Body Butter? Lotion when it is hot, body butters when it is cold

13. Body Wash or Soap? Body Wash

14. Wax or Shave? Depends but waxing does last longer

Fashion

15. Jeans or Joggers? Jeans as I have no clue what joggers are but you can’t go wrong with jeans

16. Skirts or Dresses? Dresses!

17. Stripes or Checkers? Stripes

18. Flip Flops or Sandals? Flip Flops

19. Boots or Stilettos? Depends on the outfit

Hair

20. Curly or Straight? Although I like it when my curly hair cooperates, I still love straight hair for some reason

21. Long or Short? Long

22. Bun or Ponytail? Bun

23. Light or Dark? Reddish (not sure where that lies)

24. Hair Spray or Gel? Mousse

Random

25. Rain or Shine? Sunshine

26. Summer or Winter? Winter as it seems it’s always summer in SoCal (not a bad thing but change is good…)

27. Autumn or Spring? Autumn

28. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate!

29. Fashion or Beauty? Beauty of course but I am working on some fashion 🙂

30. Leather or Sequins? Leather

I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say and I hope you enjoyed this!  🙂

Happy Wednesday and thanks for reading,

Stephanie 

 

 

And The Winner Is….

VS Giveaway

The winner of my Vintage Sister Lip Balm Duo giveaway is Brooke from Beauty by Brooke LeAnne!  Congratulations Brooke!  I will send you a message to work out the details. 🙂

Take a moment to visit her blog http://beautybybrookeleanne.wordpress.com/; she has some pretty awesome posts!

Thank you so much to each of you who participated!!! Your support means the world to me!  🙂

I hope to do more giveaways in the future.

Wishing you a great Tuesday,

Stephanie 

 

Stephie Estie Thank You Giveaway!

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VS Giveaway

Since November is a month known to express gratitude, I decided to do a mini thank you giveaway.  I know how busy everyone is, so to my readers that take the time to read my posts, a sincere thank you!   To get your lips mistletoe ready holiday season, the winner gets a Vintage Sister Lip Balm Duo in Pumpkin Cheesecake and Snickerdoodle!  All you have to do is:

1) Make sure you are following my blog (subscribe and/or ‘Like’ me on Facebook)

2) Reblog or share any one of my posts if you can.

3) Comment on this post and tell me what you are most thankful for this year to enter this giveaway.

4) Open to U.S. residents only.

***The winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 18, 2014.***

Good luck and thank you so much for reading! 

Stephanie

 

Sephora VIB: 2014

Sephora VIB

It’s here!!!

Over the weekend, I received the Sephora Exclusive Holdiday Shopping event catalog and coupon codes and I am super excited!! Sephora purchases at 20% off equals one happy Steph. 🙂

Although I have a couple of things in mind, I’m curious to know what you guys are planning to get.

What’s on your wishlist? Share and comment below!  

Stephanie

Halloween Ideas!

Halloween is almost here and if you’re still not sure what to wear or are looking for any ideas, check out some of the things I have done in previous years!

Queen of Hearts/Alice in Wonderland

This one was a great fun look for me to try.     

Wardrobe

I actually bought the costume for this one but also put in my unique twist.  I bought a clip-on top hat and purchased red extensions to put throughout my hair.

Makeup

Red lips, a cat-eye look with gray/black eyeshadow, red blush  and extravagant eyelashes were what I used to complete this look.

AIW 1
AIW 2

 

Evil Queen from Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time is one of my favorite shows so I decided to dress up as the Evil Queen.  She is usually shown wearing long dark dresses or corset type tops with fitted pants-I went with the latter wardrobe.  I drew some inspiration from this picture.

Evil Queen OUAT

Evil Queen 1

Wardrobe

I wore black tights, a black/grey corset top, knee high black boots and a black cape.  Of course, no evil queen is complete without the red apple.  I used a fake prop apple for this pic but for a party, you don’t really want to haul an apple in your hand so I made a necklace using an old necklace and attaching a small apple I found in a teacher’s supply store.

Hair and Makeup

Since my hair was already black I just tied it into a high ponytail.  For makeup, I wanted high cheekbones so I contoured my cheeks with Nars blush in Douceur.  I opted for red liptsick, a smokey eye and false eyelashes to complete the look.

Homecoming  Zombie Queen

As much as I would love to take the credit for the makeup here, only the concept and wardrobe was mine.  The makeup was done by my very talented friend and fellow esthetician colleague Martha McCullagh.  Blood and veins were key in this look.

H Zombie

 

zombie 2

Everything put together!  I used an old dress I had from Windsor, applied more fake blood and a bit of grey eyeshadow on my legs arms and dress.  I teased my hair a little bit more (yes, that is actually my hair!), and for the finishing touch applied the tiara which had fake blood splattered on it as well.

I enjoyed all of these costumes, but the zombie look was by far one of my favorites-so fun! Just an FYI:  Blood on the neck/chest area isn’t the best thing if you are driving- be prepared to have sticky blood on the seat belt strap.  Also, when you are driving, people will stop and do a double take after they see you.  Have fun with it but drive carefully!

As you can see, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a costume.   Just a few staples items here and there and a bit of creativity are needed.

Hope you found this post fun and helpful.  Let me know if you try any of them out! 

Stephanie