My Makeup Routine

Happy Saturday lovelies! This week has flown by! It was my first week of school so I wanted to share my makeup routine! Depending on how much time I have in the morning I may modify my routine. Most of the time this is what I will do though. Every product I use in this tutorial will be linked in the description.

Before Makeup:

Step 1: I wipe my face with a facial wipe to remove any oils from my skin.

Step 2: I moisturize my face with Ultra Repair Cream from First Aid Beauty.

Step 3: I prime my face with matte primer by Bare Minerals.
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Step 4: I apply Becca Backlight Priming Filter to make my skin glow and blur any imperfections.

Step 5: I cover my blemishes and help heal them by putting on Blemish Therapy Concealer by Bare Minerals. I only apply this on my blemishes not anywhere else on my skin.It comes with the Heal and Conceal brush below.

Step 6: I apply the Blemish Remedy Powder Foundation by Bare Minerals. It helps fight acne and provides matte full coverage. It is buildable so you can increase your coverage. I chose this foundation because I wanted a more natural makeup look and it does just so.

This brush is recommended to be purchased with the powder foundation above. It is the Seamless Buffing Brush by Bare Minerals.

Step 7: I apply concealer under my eyes, on blemishes, and any area with redness. I love the Maybelline Age Rewind Highlighting Concealer. Also, to enhance the color of my lipstick I apply some on my lips before application.

I use a beauty blender to blend my concealer out. I would recommend a small or medium size. I would also recommend this to apply any liquid foundation. The original brand is expensive so you can buy a cheaper one from TJ Maxx or Amazon.

Step 8: I apply Neutrogena Shine Control Powder to set my makeup and prevent any shine from sweat to occur. This is my favorite drug store translucent powder.

Step 9: It’s time for the brows! I brush mine with an old mascara brush but you can buy an inexpensive one from the drugstore. Having shaped and filled brows is trending right now so a lot of companies have good products. Sephora and MAC have very nice high quality products that I would recommend!

I use an angled brush to fill in my brows. Always remember to buy nice quality makeup brushes because it changes how the product applies and cheap ones shed bristles. I recommend this one.

I use MAC brown powder to fill in my brows but I would recommend this pencil: click here

Step 10: I highlight my cheekbones and brow bone to give my skin a natural glow. I use one from MAC but Urban Decay and Becca have beautiful highlighters too.

Step 11: I apply blush to warm up my face and make my skin look more natural. I recommend the shade Melba from MAC. It applies beautifully and compliments every skin tone. But most of the time one of the makeup artists in MAC will recommend the perfect shade for you.

I use this brush from Mary Kay to apply both my highlighter and blush. I pat the product on my cheek bone then blend up towards the top of my ear. MAC also carries amazing quality brushes!

Step 12: I prime my eyelids with Bare Study Primer by MAC. It has a gorgeous finish and applies beautifully. I just use my finger and cover my whole lid.

Step 13: I apply Naked Lunch Eye Shadow by MAC on my lids ending at my crease.

This is my FAVORITE palette! It’s the Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette by Urban Decay. There are so many beautiful ways to use this product.

For this look I apply Limit for a matte base.

Next I apply Strange in the center of my lid to add a spotlight effect.

Last I blend Nooner into my crease. I dab the product toward the outside of my lid then blend it into the center. This adds definition to your eye. You can add any other color to the inner corner of your eye for a compliment. When I’m done with eyeshadow I apply highlighter to my brow bone.

I use this tapered blending brush by MAC to apply all of my shadows.

Step 14: I curl my eyelashes to add volume, 3 seconds on each side. My eyelash curler is from Revlon.

Step 15: I use Upward Lash Mascara in Black from MAC. This product is a Godsend, it adds amazing volume and length. It’s buildable so you can increase the thickness.

Step 16: I recently discovered this GEN NUDE Matte Lipstick from Bare Minerals and it’s my favorite lipstick I have ever owned. It’s expensive but SO worth it!!! I have it in the color Slay (which is gorgeous), but I recommend every shade they have!!!!

My favorite gloss is Mocktail Hour by Victoria Secret. I like the consistency, color, and it smells wonderful.

I use a makeup mirror similar to this, and sit in front of a window when I apply my makeup everyday. This ensures that I will properly apply everything and nothing will be applied too heavily.

My Full Makeup Look:

This look takes me 10-15 minutes in the morning to do! It’s quick and easy yet looks like you spent hours doing it! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any suggestions in the comments below! Enjoy your weekend!

Yours Truly,

Elle Coffman

P.S. I HAVE EXCITING NEWS: Last night I ordered merchandise from Shop Stevie for my new clothing line!! My website will be launching soon, I will announce when it does! Follow me on instagram, @elle.shopstevie to stay updated on my business! Here is a sneak peak of one of 22 pieces… 

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Back to School Supplies!!!

Even though I dread summer coming to an end I do love shopping for school supplies and feeling organized! Here are a few things I picked up this year at Target…

1. Book Bag

I had been struggling finding a book bag that would hold all my stuff and look cute, but luckily I found this one! Target has cute book bags and for great prices. I also recommend bags from Herschel Supply Co., Vera Bradley, Jans Sport, and The North Face.

2. Writing Utensils

I buy Bic mechanical pencils because they are great quality! I recommend them over other brands, and trust me I’ve tried many! I have highlighters from last year that still work perfectly fine so I’m using those. I will also bring a pen and thin sharpie markers to school, I just don’t have them pictured.

3. Calculator

Gotta have one of these to survive math…! I purchased this Ti-84 from Target but you can find it at Walmart, Best Buy, and online too. These are expensive so I would make sure your teacher recommends this calculator before you purchase it! I have the colored version and it’s very convenient, but the style without color still does the job!!

4. Book Covers

Some teachers still pass out books at the beginning of the year. These are very helpful to keep your books nice by the time you return them. Book replacements are very expensive, you could buy yourself a new pair of shoes with that money… So go get yourself a book cover! 😉

5. Paper

I always have loose leaf paper with me just in case we have book work or to jot down notes. A basic necessity.

6. Folders

I have tried to use folders more than binders to maximize space in my book bag. These have dividers to keep my papers nice and organized- I’m really happy about that! I will use binders this year too but I haven’t bought them yet. I want to see what classes require them then buy only what I need. My plan is to clean out all my papers after each 9 weeks so I don’t have so many papers throughout the year. I’ll store them in a container until I need them for finals.

7. Notebooks

I will use these to take notes in class and for homework. Target was having a deal where you can buy 4 notebooks for $3 so I took full advantage of that! Instead of buying all large notebooks that will last all year I bought one for each nine weeks!

8. Large Notebook

I bought one large notebook for English so I can keep all my writing from the year in one place.

9. Agenda

Probably my favorite thing! I love keeping my tasks organized with lists. I also have to write down everything I need to do or I’ll forget. I recommend getting one or use the one the school provides to ensure you remember to do all your homework and other projects. At the end of the day I always think back on my day and write down my homework- you could also do it throughout the day, but I just don’t always have time.

10. Water bottle

I personally love my water bottle from blogilates because it keeps me motivated and hydrated. Water is so good for your body and helps keeps you focused throughout the day. My goal is to drink more water this school year so hopefully this will help me!

11. Ear buds

These are my best friend. I love sticking them in during study hall. Music helps me relax or get in a better mood. Nothing is more therapeutic than music and it is just what I need during a stressful day at school!

12. Locker decor

Okay, yes I’m that person that decorates her locker… This year I purchased a geometric chandelier (go ahead roll your eyes) but it makes me happy and that’s exactly how I want to feel, especially at school! I have a mirror to make sure I don’t have food in my teeth after lunch and can touch up my lip gloss. These are just things a girl’s gotta do! I also have a flower Scentportable from Bath and Body Works with two scents which are currently for fall because you know I’m already excited for the Pumpkin Cupcake and Farmstead Apple scents… I go to my locker three times a day so these decorations will go to use!!

I hope some of my tips were helpful and will prepare you for this school year!! Of course do what’s best for you and buy the supplies that fit your needs. Everyone is different and all teachers require different supplies. These are just the things that are best for me! Would you like me to do a school clothing haul? Let me know in the comments!!

Enjoy your day,

Elle Coffman

New York Fashion Week: Oxford Fashion Studio

I was given the amazing opportunity to work at Studio 450 with the Oxford Fashion Studio during New York Fashion Week. My job was to finalize the chair tags, socialize with guests, and take photos. The show was absolutely brilliant! I can’t wait to share my experience with you!

Part of the Banson group and I before setting up:

The beautiful venue:

   

  

Stairs leading to backstage. The models got ready upstairs, there was a hair and makeup team, and the designers brought their line up here too.

My roomates Macy and Sami

Hair and Makeup team . Two cosmetology students from our Banson group got the opportunity to help them do hair and makeup.

The venue after setting up:

  
  The Fashion Show:

NGA Wun Kitty Mok (China)- Graduate of Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England and designer, Kitty has an eye for bold patterns and detail, and shows that in her innovative designs.  She “…presented a playful mix of colour and pattern that gives an appearance of texture with this ‘arcade’ inspired line.  It’s fun.  Bravo!”

-http://edgexpo.com/2015/10/11/game-over-press-start-edge-interviews-nga-wunkitty-mok/

  

  
  
      Photo taken by Ellie Auch

LEAF XIA- Xia is a graduate of Parsons The New School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Womenswear. Specializing in collage, she uses this medium as a tool to express her unique design spirit. Often featuring oversized shapes with colourful collaged silhouettes that play on classic. Collage techniques and bonded fabrics bring an unconventional sporty quality that is wearable to Xia’s work.

-http://www.leafxiastudio.com/about/

        Photo taken by Ellie Auch

VEJITS (Finland)- Designers Olli Turunen, Pornwijit Chuasomboon and Mikhail
Volodchenkov founded this classic brand with natural Nordic and Asian influences.
Every item is produced ethically in Finland and in Thailand and has a story that can be
seen in the prints as well as in the playful details in each garment.  The collection
embraces Nordic minimalism and functionality with Asian colors and richness.

-Holland Grumieax (Founder of BansonNYC)

              

HANBYEL KANG (USA) – Born in South Korea and educated at Parsons The New School
of Design, Hanbyel Kang creates designs that are original, romantic and dramatic.  Her
inspiration can be defined by the elegance in eccentricity.  Her skills with pattern making, designing, developing fabric treatment and creating digital prints is obvious throughout the line.

-Holland Grumieax (Founder of BansonNYC)

  Photo taken by Ellie Auch

ARTHUR AVELLANO (France)- Avellano graduated from the Institut Supérieur Des Arts De Toulouse. He handmade his designs in Paris, France and are 100% latex. His water resistant designs are eye catching and innovative.

-http://arthuravellano.com/

  Photo taken by Ellie Auch

LENIE BOYA (UK) – Uzbekistan born fashion designer, Lenie Boya, started creating
dresses for herself at the tender age of 7 when she was given a few remnants of material.
She has now launched a luxury womenswear label where she brings her visions to life
and ultimately aims to allow a woman to express her innate beauty, individuality and
confidence while wearing a Lenie Boya creation.

-Holland Grumieax (Founder of BansonNYC)

  Photo taken by Ellie Auch Photo taken by Ellie Auch

ALEXIS WALSH (New York, NY) Alexis is a graduate from Parsons The New School of Design. The majority of her work focuses on the notion of using the human body as canvas. Through unconventional , materials such as metal and plastic, and the exploration of technologies including SD printing, Alexis transcends the traditional modes of fashion to push the boundaries of wearable art. Alexis’s work has been exhibited in New York, Paris, London, Madrid and Berlin, and has been worn by Lady Gaga.

-http://www.alexiswalsh.com/bio

Photo taken by Ellie Auch

Photo taken by Ellie Auch

Behind the scenes after the show:

      

I want to thank Holland Grumieax (founder of BansonNYC and chaperon), Rachel Roth (chaperon), Tiffany Saunders (Creative Director of OFS), Zee llze Vira (Assistant Runway Director of OFS), Jemima Myers (PR and Production Manager of OFS), and Carl Anglim (Director/ Producer) for giving me and other high school/ college students the opportunity to work at a fashion show during New York Fashion Week and see such a beautiful show.

I took and edited most of the photos on this page. Ellie Auch also photographed during the show and I used some of her pictures. I am so grateful for this life-changing experience and am thrilled I was able to take photos and blog about it.

From my heart to yours….

-M4demoiselle

Back to School

It has been too long since I last posted on my blog, due to being in California, and I’m happy to be back! Even though we don’t like to hear it, school is just around the corner! I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for preparing for the school year, including organization, school shopping, and some healthy habits.

Organization

When school starts the last thing you want to think about is a cluttered room. So don’t, take a few hours, or a day in my case and get out with the old, and in with the new!

Step 1: Go through all of your clothes

Clean out your closets, dressers, or whatever you have. This can be difficult, especially for me because I always think “What if I need to wear this one day?”  Truth is, if you haven’t worn it in a year you’re not going to wear it. Also get rid of any clothing that either doesn’t fit or you don’t feel confident in.  You will not wear clothing if you don’t feel beautiful in it. During this process you can also get a feel of what clothing you need for the new school year.

There are many things you can do with your unwanted clothes, shoes, and accessories.

1. Donate them to a local thrift shop.
2. Hand them down to a younger family member or friend.
3. If it’s gently used or new, try selling it online or in a garage sale.

Step 2: Go through miscellaneous drawers

Personally I went through my makeup, lotions and perfumes, hair and skin care products, nail polish, pictures, papers, pencils, coloring tools, and books. All things to keep in mind when organizing. It feels so much better that I don’t have any junk drawers and everything I own has a place and isn’t crammed. Just turn on some music and think about the finished product and you won’t have any issues finishing this task.

Step 3: Clear out your phone

We all have loaded hundreds or even thousands of pictures, some new tunes, and countless apps to entertain us this summer. It always feels so good to go through and delete things to create more storage and make you feel organized. A way to keep all of your pictures on your phone without taking up so much space is an app called Dropbox. You can upload your photos to the app then delete them from your camera roll. Your pictures are uploaded to your account and can be accessed from any device that’s compatible with Dropbox, such as your computer.

Organizing always makes me feel so much better, like I lifted a load off of my shoulders. Once I organize my bedroom it motivates me to keep it clean because I spent so much time on it and I love the way it feels.

School Shopping 

The big thing to remember when shopping is to find clothing that YOU love, and feel beautiful in. Another thing to keep in mind is the dress code. As much as it can be a struggle it is not impossible, you can still dress modest and cute. The two rules most students struggle with is having fingertip length shorts and covering their shoulders. No worries because I have ways to make these rules easy to follow. Some cardigans are great but other times they can be too warm, especially since my school doesn’t have air conditioning. Kimonos are a must because they are light weight, fun, and easy to throw on in the morning. These are a few ways I style mine:

  

 
Don’t be afraid to dress them up either, a skirt or dress would be a perfect combination with a Kimono.

I styled my outfits above with finger tip length shorts, I buy mine from American Eagle, Abercrombie, and Aeropostale. You can still achieve a cute outfit without wearing short shorts. Below I have styled the same outfit but with different length shorts:

Finger tip length shorts   Short Shorts

When buying school supplies always go to the store with a list. If you’re like me and don’t go with a list you will end up buying things you don’t need. Remember to reuse supplies you had last year such as scissors, gently used folders, highlighters, or anything that didn’t get ripped. Every year I buy binders and folders before the year starts. This year I’m going to try something new so I get the best use of my backpack space and don’t spend money I don’t have to. On the first day of school I am going to bring a notebook, pencils, and a folder so I can write down exactly what I need for each class.

Healthy habits 

I am not a health expert but I have done research and know quite a bit about the subject. I always try to be as healthy as I can but of course I’m not going to deny a trip to Whit’s or a cheeseburger and fries. Of course it’s not good to have those things everyday but it’s totally okay to reward yourself every once in awhile. Eating healthy has so many benefits. First of all it is SO good for your body and its makes you feel better, you will notice that you will have more energy, which leads to a better mood!  Also doing some sort of physical activity every day is a great habit to get into. Find a workout that is best for you, it could be taking a walk, jump roping, or even an ab workout. All of those things are great for your body and will make you feel better than ever. It is so important to drink lots of water, especially with all the heat. Bring a water bottle to school so you are drinking constantly throughout the day.

I hope some of these tips and tricks help you get back to school ready! Have a great rest of your summer!

From my Heart to Yours, MademoisELLE

What I Learned During My Adventure in New York City: Day 5

Thank you for taking the time to read about my week in New York City. If you are a fellow fashionista and are in high school or college, please look into Banson NYC fashion summer camp. Check out their website (www.BansonNYC.com) and if you have any questions email me at ecoff9@gmail.com.  I am so thankful I had this opportunity. God has taken me places I could only have dreamed of. I also have the most amazing and supportive parents who have given me the privilege to experience things like this.

I thought of the week as a package. Throughout the week we filled it with goodies and the last day we wrapped it and even placed a beautiful bow on top.  Friday, June 26th, was our last day when we took all the information we learned and applied it to our lives. We spent the day at the LIM Townhouse, the school’s classrooms are located here. Admissions1 Educational Consultants talked to us about college and career options, and we learned how to find our best match. Personally I discovered so much about myself, my abilities, and passion. Now I know that I want to live in New York City and have a better idea of my plans for the future. I have learned so many things from this camp, but I do have five that stand out to me the most.

1. Follow your heart, you are capable of anything. Trust me when I say this: “You will do it”. If you love something enough and put all of your heart into it, there is no doubt your dreams can come true. It doesn’t matter what you have or where you are from, Raul told us. All that matters is your passion and determination. My dream is to have a job in the fashion industry and I will never give up on it. I am motivated and determined to work very hard. Honestly I’m not scared at all.  I am so excited! When you find what you want and love to do you will feel the same way. My parents can even see the love of fashion in me. They always tell me my eyes light up whenever I go to a Nordstrom fashion meeting or event or when I talk about my aspirations. During job interviews, something your future boss will be looking for is passion. I talked to many people who have held interviews and they love when someone comes in and shows passion and interest in what they are doing. My hope is to inspire you to follow your dreams and only make decisions that will positively impact you and will make you so happy. You have one chance at life, do what makes you smile every day.

2. Only make choices that broaden your horizons. Kenneth D. King taught me this. When it comes to daily life choices or big choices like what college to attend, only make choices that will positively benefit you. He also told us that these choices might be the hardest, scariest choices of our lives. Always remember to take chances, but always make good decisions.

3. Don’t be afraid to fail, and it’s okay to say I don’t know. Don’t know what you want to do with your life? Guess what? That’s okay, you’re not alone!! A majority of the people we talked to went to college having selected one major and graduated with a different one. They are now just as successful as those who knew what they wanted to do at the start of college. Many people take multiple classes their first year just to discover what they like to do. Also, if you don’t succeed at something, it wasn’t a waste of your time and you shouldn’t be hard on yourself about it. Your failure can lead to your success, and now you can move on and focus on your passion.

4. Always work hard. This should be a no brainer, but surprisingly people still don’t do it. Everyone we met at some point told us it takes work hard. When it comes to an internship or a job, your hard work will be noticed and appreciated. Maybe not at first, but eventually. Kayleigh Adam, for example, has an internship in NYC and she told us that sometimes the girls she works with are on their phone instead of doing their job. Kayleigh always stays on task and gets the job done. Her boss has taken notice of this, which has had great benefits. The fashion industry is large and fast changing, but it can feel small because you never know who you will run into again. Always work hard and be kind to your peers and co-workers. One day they might help you get your dream job.

5. Don’t burn your bridges. Like I said before, you never know who you will meet again. Always keep contact information from people you meet throughout the years. If someone does something nice for you, get in the habit of sending hand written thank you cards. If it’s a former teacher who inspired you, or even a co-worker that has always been kind to you, make a point to thank these people for all they have done. Those kind words will mean so much to them. Holland taught us this and is a living example. The reason we were able to tour the companies throughout the week were because Holland had worked with them before, reached out to them and put an effort into being their friend.

I hope you learned something from my experience as well. I can’t wait for my future, but I am taking one step at a time and living in the moment. Don’t forget to cherish the times you have now because you can’t relive them.

Friday we had a special visit from former Banson campers. It was so cool to see how far all of these girls have come since they were campers like me. They were all so inspiring and one is even attending a college I am very interested in, Kent State, in Ohio.

The Wanderlust Girls (Abigail and Emily) who are fashion bloggers came to the classroom and shared their story of how they started their blog and became successful. They were so kind and encouraging. They were another reason I was inspired to start this blog.

It was sad saying goodbye to everyone that night, but I was smiling at all the incredible memories we made. It is so wonderful how close you can get to people in such a short amount of time. I will cherish our friendship forever.

Remember to follow your dreams and always be yourself. And don’t forget to smile, because life is a privilege.

From my heart to yours, MademoisELLE