Lock in Moisture with Some of my Favorite Products!

Tomorrow morning I will be jet setting off to Las Vegas again for a rock n roll filled weekend with friends I haven't seen in months! My friend, who recently moved to Vegas, warned me about the triple digit temps that are happening out there. So, as I started packing today (nothing like waiting until the last minute) I wanted to share a couple necessities I use to lock in moisture. These products would be great to take to take on vacation or even use at home on a regular basis.

I cannot live without Vaseline at home! I put it on whenever my lips feel dry and make sure to lather it up at night. It has done wonders for my lips and it would be perfect for those desert climates. The lip therapy form of Vaseline is my ultimate favorite! It's thick without being sticky. And it is so tiny, it's perfect to throw in your clutch!

Another one of my favorite, must-have products is Aveeno's Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion for extra dry skin. This stuff seriously feels so good on the skin. I have really dry skin all the time and this product makes a huge difference. And it worked just as well after a long day of hiking and horseback riding in Red Rock Canyon.

We can't forget to moisturize our hair! Especially if you use a lot of heat for styling. I know I do! The Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque is a life saver! It makes your hair feel so soft and healthy! Even my overly processed, damaged hair feels fresh and fabulous. It has really saved my hair at times when it was at its worst! However, use it on a day you are not going to add any heat to your hair! The oil plus heat combo will fry your ends.

Hope these products help you stay moisturized this summer!

Rock the Look: Courtney Bingham at the Clothing Coven Launch

Today I have another one of Courtney Bingham's fabulous looks that you can get at a great price!

This look is so fun for the spring and summer, I had to recreate it! I loved the combo of the bold skirt, lace crop top, pearls, and strappy heels. I went to my ever-faithful Forever 21 website and found everything needed for this look except the shoes. Both the red skirt and lace, floral crop top were under $10. The red bag and necklace were both under $20. This is exactly why I love Forever 21! For the shoes, I tried a few places and was having a hard time finding the perfect heels. Finally, I discovered the nude sandals on DSW's website. They aren't an exact match but I thought they pulled the outfit together nicely. Plus, you've got to add your own flair when recreating a look. Where's the fun in copying something exactly as is?

Click to add these pieces to your wardrobe and rock this look: crop top, skirt, bag, necklace, and heels.

Lusting Over Velvet Muse Lingerie!

Today, I want to feature an Etsy shop I have been lusting over for the past couple of weeks. It is called Velvet Muse Lingerie and it is run by the gorgeously goth Harper Leigh. Seriously, check out her instagram... stunning! I mentioned this shop a few posts back but I wanted to delve deeper into what it has to offer. If you like the dark and deranged, I promise you will fall in love!

Harper offers a selection of gorgeous, and custom made, cage bras that would easily jazz up any plain tank or maxi dress. I ordered one the other day and I cannot wait to rock that bad boy at concerts this summer! She also has a great selection of garters. Everything from bleeding hearts, to skulls, to lightning bolts.

As I have previously mentioned, the creepy jewelry offered makes my heart skip a beat! And who doesn't need a pair of black kitty ears?

I highly recommend checking out Velvet Muse Lingerie. I cannot wait to get my goodies and I am sure I will be placing another order in the near future! Click here to visit Velvet Muse!

Ab Attack! My Favorite Ab Exercises.

Today is all about the ab attack! Abs are my favorite area to target when working out. Gotta have that killer bikini bod in time for summer! Here are some of my favorite exercises that really are effective without taking up a lot of your time!

My absolute favorite is a killer exercise that targets those pesky lower abs. Trust me, you will feel the burn with this one. Start on your back with your legs extended straight up in the air. Contract your abs and squeeze your booty to pulse up with your lower body. Use control when coming down into the starting position. (2-3 reps of 20)

Another one of my favorites are leg lifts. Simply lay on your back with your legs tight and straight on the ground. Using your abs, raise your legs straight up and slowly lower until your heels are just off the ground. (2-3 reps of 20)

Standard crunches are another staple that really work those abs out. (2-3 reps of 20)

I use a couple variations of the plank in my routine. No matter what kind of plank you are doing, make sure your bum is not sticking up into the air. Proper form may be more challenge but you will get better results! To really take your planks to the next level, try rocking slightly forwards and backwards while holding proper form. Also try holding one arm or leg out straight while the rest of your body holds the plank. Then switch. (:30 or :45)

Another one that will really make you feel the burn is a shoulder shimmy ab dance. Start as if you are going to lay back to do sit-ups. Engage your abs and lower your upper body halfway down. Hold your arms straight out in front of you, palms facing in. Push one shoulder forward and then the other, all while engaging your abs. (1 song, ~4 minutes)

One tip that will help you achieve better results... make sure your lower back is pressed into the floor at all times. No saddle back here!

Witch Wear Inspired Dresses!

It's the witching hour over here at Beauty Bandit! I loved everything about American Horror Story: Coven.. It was the perfect mixture of spooky and fabulous! As I have been lurking around various online clothing stores recently, I noticed a large amount of black dresses just in time for summer. My little black heart skipped a beat! The dresses reminded me of ones worn by the cast in Coven and I was immediately inspired to pull some of my favorite witchy dresses for you! I also have an Etsy shop for you to check out called Velvet Muse Lingerie, which has amazing lingerie and accessories. Harper Leigh runs it and it is spooktacular just like her! There are even some "Witch Wear" jewelry items in the shop, which will complete your witchy look.

Check out these spellbinding dresses at incredible prices: pretty-attitude, forever 21, love culture, love culture, and black heart.

Visit Velvet Muse Lingerie by clicking here.

Happy haunting... and shopping!

Tips for Keeping your Hair Healthy and Fabulous!

If you are anything like me, then you color your hair a lot. And you probably know how hair dye can really damage your mane. I have had countless hair colors... From platinum blonde, to purple streaks, to jet black, and everything in between. So to say my hair has taken a beating is a major understatement. Recently, I have taken a break from coloring my hair in the hopes of reviving my hair and making it a little healthier. I wanted to share some tips I have learned over the years that will help your hair be healthy and fabulous!

Let's start with a couple tips when it comes to washing your hair. First, as gross as this might sound, try to wash your hair as sparingly as possible. I try to go two or three days in between washes. Your hair's natural oils are so good for it and if you over wash, you are removing those essential oils. Now, my hair can get flat and greasy looking kind of quickly but I have found a way to combat that and add volume at the same time by using Batiste dry shampoo in between washes. That stuff is seriously awesome! When you do wash your hair, shampoo and rinse twice. This helps get all buildup out and keeps your hair looking wonderful for longer in between washes.

Now for tips when drying your hair. Swap out your towel and opt for a soft t-shirt to dry your hair. It isn't nearly as harsh on your hair! Towels will break fragile ends right off, especially if you rub your hair in between the towel. Major no-no! Also, never brush wet hair with a bristled brush. When your hair is wet it loses all elasticity and will snap in your brush. Instead, gently work out tangles by starting at the ends and working your way up to the root with a wide tooth comb.

Last but certainly not least, avoid using heat on your hair. I used to be guilty of straightening my hair every day, which destroyed my ends. Now I only use my straightener for special occasions. If you are going to use any sort of heat on your hair, always use a heat protectant first!

I hope these tips help your hair look its best!

DIY Shredded Cobweb Shirt

Want to add a unique top to your closet that will go with just about anything? Then I have the perfect DIY project for you. A shredded cobweb shirt! It's super easy (although time consuming) and will definitely make a statement.

All you need are three things: a plain tee or tank, a pair of scissors, and some patience. Start by cutting off the bottom hem of your shirt. Now comes the tedious part. I recommend grabbing a glass of wine and putting on your favorite Tim Burton movie before you start shredding. Begin pulling individual threads upwards, occasionally stretching them horizontally, too. You want to pull as many threads as you can muster the patience for in order to create the cobweb look. This is also great because it creates a high-low effect once all of the pulling and shredding is finished.

Pair with you favorite leather leggings and you are ready for action!

Rock the Look: Dorothy at the Rob Zombie Event

Dorothy is an up and coming recording artist who is dating The Killing Light's Michael Vampire. Her voice is so raw and powerful and her style is equally as wicked! This look was from some months ago during Rob Zombie's Great American Nightmare event. It was dark and sleek. Gave me an American Horror Story vibe. I had to recreate it; I love it!

I went right to Bebe's website to check out their selection of "wet" leggings. I found the perfect top and blazer at H&M. I love H&M! You can find some serious steals! The booties are currently on sale at Journey's for less than $30. This is exactly why I love shopping for off season bargains. The booties are sky high but super comfortable and easy to walk in. The necklace and waist belt were both found on Forever21. Again, super inexpensive. The hat took a bit more hunting. Many that I found were straw and I just was not feeling that. I finally found a panema hat on Urban Outfitter's site. It's a little pricey but matches Dorothy's almost perfectly. A little trick... If you want the white band on your hat like she had, stop by Joann's, pick up some fabric, and tie or glue on!

Go for dramatic eyes and a bold lip! Revlon's Stand Out balm stain would be perfect. If you want long locks like Dorothy, check out Luxy clip-in hair extensions.

Check out these links to get this look: leggings, top, blazer, shoes, belt, hat, and necklace.

This look is super sexy, so vamp it up and rock it during a night out!

Lana Del Rey Inspired Makeup

I love everything about Lana Del Rey, especially her dramatic makeup! This is one of my favorite pictures of her and one of my favorite looks to recreate. I wanted to share with you the products I used to create a dramatic and sultry, Lana Del Rey inspired makeup look.

Lana is very fair in this picture, so all my fair girls out there can really rock this look! For the face, start with my go-to, all time favorite foundation.. Revlon ColorStay. Get the formula for oily skin, which will finish closer to matte, as opposed to a satin finish. Use the shade Ivory to really channel your inner Lana. To brighten up the under eye area, use the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer in Fair. For a flawless face, conceal any problem areas with the Revlon ColorStay concealer in Light Medium (or whatever matches your skin tone.) Dust the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Translucent all over the face. Lightly contour using Revlon Nearly Naked powder in Medium. We want to add some dimension to the face, but don't go overboard since LDR does not look very sun kissed in this picture.

Time to add some drama! Always start by applying Urban Decay's primer potion all over the eyelids to ensure your makeup has staying power. Apply MAC's shadow in Brule all over the lids. Really define your crease by applying Hustle from the Naked palette. Avoid too much blending out and up or into the outer corner of your eyelid. Pop on a little Wet & Wild brow bone highlight in the Silent Treatment palette. Lana has some extreme black liner on, which is to die for! Use L'Oreal's Lineur Intense liquid liner to create a thick line on the top lash line and flick out into a wing. Lana's liner is almost just as intense and thick on the bottom, so use Revlon's ColorStay eyeliner generously. The line does not need to be perfect, yet! Use Creep eyeshadow from the Naked palette to blend out and intensify the bottom lash line. Pair Maybeline's Falsies Flare mascara with some Ardell false lashes.

For the lips, apply a thin layer of OCC's Lip Tar in Hush. Finish off your Lana Del Rey inspired look by teasing your mane and you are good to go!

Rock Unique Boots by Adding Some Metal.

Looking for a way to add a little something extra when rocking your favorite boots? How about some metal? This is a super easy way to change up your look without breaking the bank and without the commitment of permanently customizing your boots.

All you need are a couple necklaces. Stop by your local Forever 21 and head straight to the accessory section. They have tons of necklaces for extremely affordable prices. Go for necklaces with shorter chains or really long chains. That way they will securely fit around your boots. It's okay if they have a pendant, just be sure it's removable. Chokers are also great if you want to add some serious edge. And be sure to pick up two of each necklace.

Once you get home start clasping your chains and chokers around your boots. If you have a chain that is an awkward length and just not working, don't worry! I have a trick for you. Clasp the necklace normally then wrap it around your boot. Twist the side of the necklace that doesn't have the clasp once then carefully put one of the links of the necklace through the clasp. Make sure the end that is already clasped does not come out.

And there you have it... unique and edgy boots!

Pretty Attitude. Edgy Online Shop with Killer Prices!

I have been on the hunt for new and unique online shops. Something with a little bit of edge. I was scrolling through my instagram feed the other day and came across a gorgeous black dress with a lace skull cut out in the back. Gorgeous! That is how I came across Pretty Attitude.

This online store is incredible. The prices are great and they have something for everyone! The items are divided into two categories: Black Label and White Label. In the Black Label section you can find the gorgeous skull dress, as well as other spooktacular dresses, jackets, leggings, and jewelry. In the White Label section you will find more whites and colorful pieces. Another thing I love is the home decor they offer, such as pillows and jewelry organizer stands.

I picked up a flirty black dress, which can be found here! They also offer free shipping on orders over $35. Can't beat that! Visit their webpage at http://www.pretty-attitude.com. Happy shopping!