Tag Archives: 2015

Best Makeup Trends from 2015

Every decade — every year, actually — is marked with its own memorable make-up trends that come and go. The ‘90s were packed with brown lipstick, blue eyeshadow, and body glitter. The turn of the millennium presented mineral make-up and everything retro. (Hello, winged eyeliner!) What did last year leave us with? Here are the best makeup trends from 2015.

1. Thicker, More Dramatic Eyebrows

It wasn’t that long ago that super thin, precisely tweezed eyebrows were the way to go. 2015, however, had all the girls reaching for their eyebrow pencils to achieve fuller, thicker, longer brows, a la Cara Delevingne and Lily Collins.

You’re gorgeous just the way you are; but if you’re looking to amp up your brows, there are countless YouTube tutorials demonstrating just that. The key is to find the right products and the proper tools. With a little practice and patience, you can have the eyebrows of your dreams. This eyebrow tutorial is very easy, straightforward, and shows you how to achieve the look in just a couple of steps.

2. Over-Lined, Extra Kissable Lips

2015 was, without a doubt, the year of the plumped up lips, making this one of the best makeup trends, no doubt; and I can’t think of a woman who wouldn’t mind having the pout of Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, or Amanda Seyfried.

Countless products hit the market all promising fuller lips, and girls went a bit nutty trying to pull off the Kylie Jenner look. (Remember when her lip kits sold out in under a minute and the Internet almost collapsed? She restocked the product and it sold out almost immediately again.)

There are ways to get this look with no pain and without having to drop a ton of money. If you want to skip the needles (eek!), give your lips a little love with a few simple steps added into your morning make-up routine. This tutorial makes the process of over-lining your lips super easy, using inexpensive products you can find at your local drugstore. Affordable, fast, and fun! I’ve had the best luck with matte lip pencils that are pretty close to the natural color of my lips, just a few shades darker. Anything glossy not only bleeds and smears, but the real outline of my lips is way more obvious.

3. The Art of Contouring

This is one that still has me scratching my head, and I am in absolute awe of people who skillfully pull this off without flaw. My face always ends up looking dirty. Clearly, I still have work to do.

I feel like, for the average gal, contouring and highlighting are a lot tougher to master, especially since they often require special brushes. This tutorial breaks it down into more manageable steps, again using products that can be purchased from drugstores and Target.

Experts are already making their guesses for what the best makeup trends of 2016 will be, and it looks like blue eye make-up and glitter might be making a return. Are you going to be a bit daring with your cosmetics this year?

Must-Read Books from 2015

Every year, the stack of books sitting on your end table grows taller; and each year, your time becomes more and more precious. We can relate to that time-crunched feeling you get when the New Year is starting and you haven’t yet completed your New Year’s resolutions from the previous year. So, we’ve taken the time to cultivate a list of books you may have missed last year that we think you should make room for in 2016.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

an ember in the ashes bookThis young adult (YA) fantasy novel was named as one of the best books of the year by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Popsugar. Tahir weaves an epic story of survival, loyalty and love set in a terrifying ancient Rome-like world. The story unfolds in shifting points of view as Laia struggles to save her brother, and Elias fights for his freedom from the Empire.  An Ember in the Ashes is a satisfying mix of Hunger Games, Romeo and Juliet and Game of Thrones that reminds teen and adult readers alike to never give up hope.

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

bollywood bride bookThey say not to judge a book by its cover, but Bollywood Bride is just as captivating as the cover’s image. In typical Bollywood fashion, Dev’s novel is a story filled with emotion, family and glimpses of Indian culture. This witty romance tells the story of Ria Parker, a Bollywood star. Ria goes home for her cousin’s wedding when she is confronted with her childhood friend, Vikram, who thinks she’s sold her soul to become a celebrity.

 

Ashley Bell: A Novel by Dean Koontz

ashley bell bookDean Koontz’s newly released fantasy thriller is an unpredictable story featuring a wide array of characters, including a surfer girl, Nazi sympathizer and a Navy seal. Cancer patient Bibi Bell meets these characters and others in an effort to rescue Ashley, a teenager that supernatural messages are prompting her to save.

 

 

House of the Rising Sun by James Lee Burke

house of the rising sun bookHackberry Holland, the novel’s protagonist, is a character straight out of a western. He’s honorable and intelligent, yet troubled by the guilt he feels for his past. House of the Rising Sun follows the Texas ranger as he tries to reconnect with, and later rescue, his estranged son from the crosshairs of an arms dealer who believes the object Hackberry carries is the Holy Grail. Burke’s novel is a beautiful combination of landscapes from the withering Wild West and action packed scenes.

Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon

boys in the trees bookIn her #1 bestselling memoir, Carly Simon, singer of the 1972 #1 hit song You’re So Vain, tells the story of her difficult childhood, musical debut and marriage to James Taylor. The book includes tidbits about how songs came to be; but mostly it is a deeply personal account of her life experiences that showcase the vulnerable person hiding behind her sexy persona.

 

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

see me sparks bookThis is not just another romance. In See Me, Sparks blends his typical love story with a suspenseful thriller. Yes, the protagonists, Maria and Colin, meet by chance and fall in love; but they also face a terrifying series of events triggered by someone from Maria’s past. See Me is the perfect read for those who want a little romance combined with an Alex Cross style mystery.