My Favorite Things 2012

I shopped like a maniac this year. I tried new trends. I tried new makeups and perfumes. 2012 was a good year of discovery for me. These are a few of my favorite things from 2012!

 

beauty by monroesteele featuring essie nailpolish

 

1). Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline Perfume my go to smell when im feeling sexy

2). Smashbox Oil free Photo Finish Primer (this stuff is the truth)

3). NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Train Bleu (the perfect sexy deep berry matte lip)

*4). Stila Fiery Liquid Lipstick (Dries Matte and stays on forever, the absolute bright red!)

5). Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF (gentle on my skin and works!)

6). Maybelline Falsies Mascara (never need fake eyelashes with 2 coats of this!)

7). NARS Heatwave Matte Lipstick (orange lippy but not too orange see it here)

8). Essie Devils Advocate and Skirting the Issue Nail Polishes (Fall Fabs)

9). Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (its awesome)

10). Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum (great after styling and decrease frizz)

11). Prada Candy Perfume (when I'm feeling flirty and it does smell like candy!)

12). Sephora Cream Waterproof Eye Shadow (I use it as a liner and for smoky eyes)

 

my loves by monroesteele featuring l.a.m.b shoes

1). ASOS Feather Skirt (recent show stopping piece that I love! get similar HERE or HERE)

2). Steve Madden Hilight Sneaker Wedge (my absolute best buy of shoes for 2012!)

3). Zara leather sleeved jacket! (sold out but get similar HERE or HERE)

4). Zara red booties (these are total show stoppers and I get compliments every time I wear them)

5). ASOS Double Cross Ring (I've been wearing it nonstop since I got it!)

6). Steve Madden Madhouse Booties (again another great shoe that everyone loves and comfy!)

7). Skull Head Bracelet (I wear mine like everyday...adds edge to an arm party too)

8). Tom Ford Sunnies (got them on sale at Loehmanns! in heavy rotation!)

9). Canon T2i Camera (My BEST ELECTRONIC BUY of 2012 especially for this blog!)

10). Bowler Hats (especially when my hair was shorter I rocked this Jan-March!)

11). Wishbone Necklace (you've seen me wear one is every other post lol)

12). L.A.M.B. Mya in TAN and Black/Grey (rocked these bad boys all summer here and here)

 

what were you favorite things of 2012?

 

xx

Monroe

 

SHOP FASHION STEELE NYC

 

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flower crown

if you follow me on instagram (@monroesteele) you may have seen me in the process of making my very first flower crown. after seeing them on one of my favorite bloggers Nicole of Gary Pepper Vintage i've wanted to rock one! so i went to my local Michaels and got all the necessary materials to make one. it was also an incentive to make one being that i am participating in the Nokia Lumia and Leivankash Jewelry fashion challenge. the challenge is to use the Nokia Lumia 900 to create a mood board based on one of the Leivankash Jewelry collections. My favorite of the collections is Flora! thus i got the inspiration to make this flower crown and to do sort of a beauty shoot. its my first of this nature and it was super fun!

Dress: Vintage from Vintage Thrift | Lipstain: Stila Fiery

Makeup: Smashbox BB Cream "Dark" | Eye Liner: Sephora Cream Liner 

Mascara: Covergirl Lash Blast in Very Black 

Eye Shadow: Maybelline EyeStudio

 

i love the way the crown turned out...even though i underestimated how many flowers i would need lol. i plan to try to make one using real flowers soon! i've been tinkering with shadows and contrast on these photos. it almost makes me look like im an angel...lol.
have you ever made a flower crown?

 

xx

Monroe

 

SHOP FASHION STEELE NYC

THRIFT eBook | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | LOOKBOOK

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Awesome photography by: Tiona D

 



The REGIME

I am not by any means a make-up connoissuer. I took a few classes back in high school when I attended Barbizon Modeling School. YIKES! hahahaha.

I know enough to get by and I've been getting a few questions about what I use so I decided to do a little post on my daily regime.

Firstly, let me explain that these are the things that work for me. They may not work for you. 

I suffer from adult acne. I used to get huge cystic very painful pimples. I have blemishes and large pores on my cheeks. So a girl knows how to cover some things up but I also use a lot of internal methods to help my skin as well.

ACNE CONTROL

Last summer I had a really bad break up and my skin freaked the f*** out. This was before I started my blog. My face was just...aweful. I tried ProActive, Murad, a series of chemical peels, lemon juices washes...I mean I tried everything. These are the combination of things that have worked.

Women's One A Day with Healthy Skin Support

DDF: Benzoyl Peroxide Gel and Sulfur Mask via Sephora

OrthoTriCyclen Lo Birth Control

Murad Sulfur Acne Spot Treatment

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Cream

Aveeno Brightening Scrub

I don't use all these everyday but my routine is that everynight I scrub my face with the Aveeno Brightening Scrub while in the shower. As soon as I get out and my pores are still open I put a dab of the DFF Benzoyl Gel and Murad Sulfur spot treatment on EACH AND EVERY PIMPLE and BLEMISH on my face. I then take a birth control pill and go to sleep.

In the morning I wash everything off and begin my

DAILY ROUTINE

 Aveeno is the only lotion my skin can tolerate. It keeps my skin from being so dry after applying all those acne treatments. I usually mix a bit of the Aveeno lotion with the Boscia SPF lotion. If I'm going to wear makeup that day, after that dries I put a little Make-Up Forever primer on.

These are the two things I usually never leave home without. I use FIT me makeup by Maybelline. Color 355. It's creamy, smooth, doesn't make me look like a ghost and perfectly matches my skin. It's also fairly cheap. A little Bare Minerals Mascara goes a long way. I also usually always wear eyeliner because without it...I do look dead.

Before I pop out the door each morning for work I take a Women's One A Day Vitamin with Healthy Skin Support. I do the DDF Sulfur Mask treatment once every 2 weeks and the Boscia Black Mask once a week to keep my pores small and help decrease my blemishes. I use the microdermabrasion exfoliate once a month.

The Boscia Black Mask is pretty cool. It goes on, tightens and then you peel it off like rubber. It does a really great job at shrinking pores and brightening dark marks and blemishes. PS...do not get this in your hair (its hell to get out) thus the hair tie..lol.

I would say out of all these products the Orthotricyclen Lo birth control, Aveeno Brightening scrub, Womens One a Day and DFF Benzoyl Gel and Murad Acne Spot treatment have helped me the most. I can't tolerate anything with Salicylic Acid so sulfur and benzoyl acne treatments work better for my skin.

So that's the Regime! Most of these items can be picked up at Sephora, Duane Reade or CVS. I would consult your own primary care physician before beginning any new medications. Again, these are just the things that work for me and may not make for you. Check out this video on how I do an outfit post for a few more make-up tips and my exercise routine here!

So what are your health and beauty secrets????

xo

Monroe

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