You’re So Vain, You Probably Think This Post Is About You: Personalizing Your Vanity

A few days ago, I shared with you my lifelong love affair with my vanity.

No – not that kind of vanity. I mean, the love affair I have with my dressing table.

Today, I’m bringing you a few of my design tips that have made my boudoir one of my favorite places in my home.

To personalize my antique white vanity I have now, and to offset its stark neutral tone, I like to add some delicate elements of color.

My neutralish, antique white dressing table with delicate splashes of color and metallics. The antique red velvet chair in this photo has now been replaced by a beautiful, french blue velvet chair with an ashy gray-stained wood frame, which I found at HomeGoods this past fall.

One of the best opportunities to add color and whimsy, to a small space such as this, is to look at what utilitarian purposes you can maximize to dress the space up a bit.

Instead of junking up your happy place, choose must-have pieces that can both serve a function and delight the senses

In this case, I used this prime (and pretty) opportunity to do this with my makeup brush holders. Why not give those expensive investments, called brushes, a lovely home? I opted for julep cups and blue sea glass cups and votives.

I also mindfully choose what sits out on my vanity.

Pretty products on display are key. They set you up to feel luxurious as you primp for a night out!

I like to display the prettiest products, and pieces that delight me most on top, where you- and everyone else – can see them. You can’t go wrong with products with pretty packaging, and laying out your favorite, colorful, eye-catching pieces of jewelry on display. Here, I have my favorite vintage 50s pastel, french colonial, floral necklace on my vanity, Tarte amazonian clay eyeliner (in a cute turquoise and gold pot), and my beloved Crème de La Mer.

Julep cups for brushes and lovely vintage necklaces make for a pleasant primping place

As for practicality? I keep my most often-used products on top or in the top drawers for easy access.

Over the vanity, hangs a soft, powdery pink chandelier to add some warm lighting, which aids in makeup application.

A chandelier spilling warm light lights the way to feeling your beautiful best every day

Whatever your aesthetic, just be authentic to yourself. Think about what delights you, what inspires you, and what will make you feel most beautiful as you sit down for a few moments to become your most beautiful self each day.

I hope you begin a torrid, lifelong love affair with your vanity, as well.

 

xoxo,
Dawn

BF Asks: What does your vanity look like? 

 

From Dallas To Day Jobs To Doing It My Way To Dreams Coming True

*This post was originally written by Dawn McCoy and published on the Beauty Collection blog on Sunday, March 1st, 2015.

Hey there, Beauty Collection beauties!

I am BEYOND honored to be the inaugural Beauty Collection Celebrity Beauty Curator this March! What is a Celebrity Beauty Curator, exactly? Well, each month, Beauty Collection will choose a Celebrity Beauty Curator who will then choose their favorite beauty products at Beauty Collection to be featured online and in stores. What does this mean to you? You get to find out what us beauty influencers are really loving at the moment. And what does the honor of being selected as the first #CelebBeautyCurator mean to me? So, SO much. And for you to understand just how much, I need you to go with me on a little time traveling expedition.

I loved makeup from an early age. A very early age.

At age 3

Picture it: Dallas, 1981. I asked Santa for a vanity. Yes, that’s right. A lighted vanity, so I could apply my makeup like my mommy did. And guess what? Santa delivered.

Santa delivered a box of vanity. Kidding.

Picture it: Dallas, 1989. My mom took me to the Clinique counter and I learned their classic, 3-step skincare regimen. My skincare regimen was born. While, I don’t use Clinique exclusively anymore, this simple forward thinking on my mom’s part set me up with a lifelong skincare regimen, where I wash my face every night and always apply moisturizer before my head hits the pillow. Thanks, Mom.

Oh, my hair hurts just looking a this. And, why yes, that is a Coca-Cola shirt!

Picture it: Dallas, 1991. I was 13 years old, I was insecure, and I wished I was anyone but myself. Someone prettier. Someone thinner. Someone cooler. Someone quieter. Someone with straight hair. All of this led me to becoming obsessed with Allure Magazine and the transformative work of the amazing makeup artist, Kevyn Aucoin on its pages. Makeup can transform you? Sign me up. When I should have been riding my bike or studying, I was perfecting the perfect cat eye liner, by studying Kevyn’s work on the pages of Allure. Later, I would realize that the things that made me different would be the very things that made me who I am today.

About to turn 13. I might have looked confident in my black velvet and lace Jessica McClintock dress, but I was anything but.

Picture it: Dallas, 2001. I had been obsessed with makeup since those fateful days back in 1991, and had become a regular in the makeup department of Neiman Marcus Northpark, getting my makeup done for high school events and learning about the hundreds of lines. In 1995, I was introduced to Trish McEvoy cosmetics. For the next 6 years, they were my favorite. And then in the fall of 2001, at a beauty event, Trish herself asked me (ME!!) to be her youngest makeup artist to date. My life – and love of makeup – would never be the same.

Picture it: Nashville, 2006: I found myself in Nashville, pursuing a singing and songwriting career, singing at The Grand Ole Opry, making a record, and making lifelong friends. I also found myself in need of a day job, like stat. In 2002, I had begun working for Barbra Streisand in Malibu. You may have heard of her. There in Nashville, I had foolishly expected it to be easier to get a job than in L.A. I was wrong. I found my happy home of a dayjob at Woo Skincare and Cosmetics, a place that reminded me of my beloved Beauty Collection, where I would shop for Barbra back in Malibu. I spent two years learning about some of my now-favorite products, such as Darphin,CaudalieNatura BisséFusion BeautyCreedVoluspa, and more, while I was a counter manager/makeup artist for Bobbi Brown and Giorgio Armani. I had no idea how important this little day job – and all that I learned there – would be in my life in the coming years. The most important lesson I learned? I loved helping others not only look, but feel their best. Makeup can do a lot, but heart matters more.

Picture it: Los Angeles, 2009. My job from 2002-2005 was shopping and running errands for Barbra. When I left Nashville and returned to Los Angeles, with my renewed love of beauty in tow, I brought that back to Barbra, when I went back to work for her, from 2009-2011. She would simply ask me to find her the perfect pinky-nude lipstick, and there I was at Beauty Collection, creating complex custom color face charts with her, placing glossy scotch tape on top to preserve the colors for her eye. To say I went above and beyond the call of duty would be an understatement. But I’m so thankful for the license I had to be creative and get that experience under my belt.

Picture it: My house in LA, March 2011. I hosted a Cupcakes and Cocktails launch party of my new blog, BeautyFrosting. Though I had never read a blog myself, I just knew I had something to share out there with the world. Thus, BeautyFrosting was born from my love of beauty, baking, lifestyle and all things pastel. What started out as a blog about makeup, cupcakes and life moments has remained that. It’s just gotten a little bigger. I love sharing it with you, and I’m still utterly humbled that you guys want to read it and hear about all of my goings-on on social media!

Being primped and not taking this precious moment for granted for a second.

Picture it: February 18, 2015. I sat in the hairstylist’s chair at Beauty Collection in West Hollywood, getting my hair coiffed into a Brigitte Bardot-style for the Celebrity Beauty Curator launch party I would be hosting that night, with all of my blogger, entertainer and tastemaker friends in attendance. I had been running around all day, between voiceover sessions for Marshall’s, getting my dress for the evening and picking up jewels to wear for the U4G Awards red carpet, that I would be hosting the following night. In the midst of the hustle-and-bustle, with a salad in my lap and the Beauty Collection skilled hairstylist’s hands in my hair, I took a moment. I realized that so many of my dreams had come true. I was a host, a voiceover actor, and a beauty and lifestyle tastemaker that gets to share my passion with – and inspire – others. As I looked in the mirror, I saw that same young 13-year-old girl in Dallas, who just wanted to be someone different and used her babysitting money to buy her first Allure magazine subscription to find the magic of makeup to help her do just that. I sat in silence and gratitude, as I just took it all in and appreciated the sheer beauty of that moment. I’m so glad I did, and decided that I will always take that moment in each “pinch-me” moment that comes my way.

Plumb giddy at the #CelebBeautyCurator Cupcakes & Cocktails Launch Party at Beauty Collection West Hollywood

Picture this: Beauty Collection, TODAY, March 1st, 2015: Needless to say, my story has led me right here to this moment. And now, I get to use all of those years of experience – and memories – with you. I am so incredibly proud to be Beauty Collection’s first Celebrity Beauty Curator, and am thrilled for the month we have ahead together! I’ll be back next week with my all-time favorite classic beauty picks, available at Beauty Collection…and you’re not gonna wanna miss ‘em! And be sure to head over to the WeHo location to see my product picks in the front window display all this March. The 14-year-old me is plumb giddy, y’all. Plumb giddy.

Xoxo,
Dawn

 

My Pamp Party is happening today at 1pm PDT/4 pm EDT on Pampadour!

The day has arrived! My Pamp Party that I’m hosting happens TODAY at 1-3 PM PDT, 4-6 PM EDT on Pampadour (www.Pampadour.com)!
And did I mention that there’s a FAB GIVEAWAY???!!!

Pampadour Giveway of Antonym Cosmetics Products (over $200 value) - Win it!!!

For every question asked with the hashtag #PampFrosting , Pampadour will donate $3 to one of my favorite charities, Step Up Women’s Network.
Additionally, with every question asked, you’ll be entered to win the Antonym Cosmetics giveaway where you can win over $200 of beauty products & brushes from my favorite new line (which just so happily happens to be vegan and cruelty-free)!
Here’s what you have to do:
1) Register on Pampadour
2) Log in
3) Ask me any beauty question you want! Just be sure to include the hashtag #PampFrosting !
4) You’re automatically entered into the giveaway & you’ve done something good without spending a dime!
Please share with your friends as I’d love to answer as many questions as you can bring and would love to raise money for SUWN!!
Thanks so much for your support!
xoxo,
Dawn

BF Asks: What are your favorite charities to support?

You’re Invited…to a Pamp Party I’m hosting tomorrow, Tuesday August 27th!

Happy Monday, you beautiful people!
I’m hosting an online “Pamp Party” on Pampadour – my FAVE new site for beauty – tomorrow Tuesday, August 27th from 1-3 PM PDT, 4-6 PM EDT! Join me, won’t you?

You're invited to the party...the PampParty that is on Pampadour TOMORROW!

Not only can you ask me ANY question you want (and I’m contractually obligated to answer) but you also will be doin’ good with every question. So, how’s that work?

Just register and log on to Pampadour (it’s TOTALLY free!), ask your questions and hashtag each of them with #PampFrostingFor every participant who logs into Pampadour & asks a question with the hashtag #PampFrosting, Pampadour will donate $3 to Step Up Women’s Network, which empowers teen girls and women to succeed.

Another bonus? All participants will be entered in the Antonym Cosmetics giveaway, which includes an 11-brush set, eyeshadow duo, eyeliner and sharpener (valued at over $200)… every beauty addict’s dream! Plus, that eyeliner is my FAVORITE right now…but more on that later.

Spread the word for this great cause by tweeting and posting questions from now on http://pampadour.com/, using the hashtag #PampFrosting! And I’ll see you (well, I won’t SEE you but you get the point) at my PampParty on Pampadour tomorrow!
xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What questions are you guys gonna ask me? 

Gorgeous Giveaway WINNER announced in our Erin Fetherston Dress & Kerastase Cristalliste Products

Aaaaaaandwe have a winner! Thanks to every single one of you beautiful souls who entered! This was the most fun gorgeous giveaway to date. And I have a slew of other ones up my sleeve so stay tuned.
But without further ado, here is the winner in our Erin Fetherston & Kerastase Gorgeous Giveaway:
@KellieChio 

Congratulations, Kellie! Either email me your mailing address or direct message me on Twitter.
And thanks everyone for entering! And thanks Kérastase and Erin Fetherston for hosting this fab contest!

 

****

Happy, happy Friday!
I’m here with another Gorgeous Giveaway for you guys and this one is goooooorgeous!!

Win it! Erin Fetherston Asymmetrical Lace Dress in size 4 or 6 (retail value $395)

Win it! Kerastase products!

You can win an Erin Fetherston dress in size 4 or 6 (retail value $395 !!) and Kérastase Cristalliste products just for entering via the directions below.

One winner will be announced on June 14th on BeautyFrosting.
Good luck, beauties!!

To enter to win:
Follow BeautyFrosting on ALL of the below:

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram @beautyfrosting 

Then, tweet “I just entered the @beautyfrosting @KerastaseUSA @ErinFetherston #giveaway to win #cristalliste #products & a dress!”

Good luuuuuuuuuck!

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Where will you wear your Erin Fetherston dress? 

FREEday Friday: And the Biore Gorgeous Giveaway Winners are…

Hellllllloooo beauties!
Is anyone else as excited as I am today?!?!
I mean, the work week is almost over, the weekend is here, it’s Funday Friday aaaaand it’s…FREEday FRIDAY!!!!!

Woo-hoo!

Today, we have 5 fabulous winners of our Biore Gorgeous Giveaway Ultimate Spring Skincare Cleaning kit!

 

Wiithout further ado, the winners are:

Courtney Alexander
Alissa Anderson
Aileen Burdock
Katherine Kelly
Jennifer Pelkey
If you’re a winner, please email me your mailing address asap! Then, I’ll pass it along to Biore and they’ll get your Ultimate Spring Skincare Cleaning Kit out to you asap!!
Again, congratulations!! And if you entered but didn’t win, stay tuned for our next verrrrrry special FREEday Friday coming up very soon!
xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What would your dream FREEday Friday prize be? 

 

FREEday Friday: Biore Gorgeous Giveaway

Hi beauties!

While we all love the Little Black Dress, none of us like Little BlackHEADS! Am I right?

Well, We have a FAB FREEday Friday Gorgeous Giveaway today sponsored by Biore!

Biore is giving away the Ultimate Spring Skincare Cleaning kit to 5 (!!!) lucky BeautyFrosting readers !  Details on how to enter below.

So what’s in it?

Bioré Warming Anti-Blackhead Cream Cleanser ($7.99): A great start to a clean & radiant face, this warming cleanser pampers skin as it whisks away buildup and oil. The powerful daily line of defense against clogged, congested pores contains Zeolite, a special mineral clay that warms on contact with water, and Salicylic acid, a powerful yet gentle ingredient that penetrates pores to help fight breakouts by dissolving clogged oil.

 

 

 

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ($9.99 for 14 strips): Lift out any stubborn dirt and oil with the ultimate antidote to clogged pores and blackheads. The perfect final step to your cleansing ritual, the hard-working, oil-free pore strips remove deep-down dirt in just one use for a clear complexion. Tea tree oil cleanses skin and rids pores of bacteria as witch hazel reduces redness and inflammation. Menthol minimizes redness and provides a tingling cooling sensation that signals a deep clean.

 

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, you must do any or all of the following:
1) Follow BeautyFrosting on Facebook

2) Follow BeautyFrosting on Twitter

3) Share the contest with your Facebook friends & family! “Enter to win @beautyfrosting Biore Gorgeous Giveaway ! 5 Winners will be announced on March 8th! http://www.beautyfrosting.com/freeday-friday-biore-gorgeous-giveaway”

3) Tweet “Enter to win @beautyfrosting #Biore #Gorgeous #Giveaway ! 5 Winners will be announced! http://www.beautyfrosting.com/freeday-friday-biore-gorgeous-giveaway”

4) Pin this contest and comment “Repin to win #BeautyFrosting #Biore #GorgeousGiveaway Enter to win @beautyfrosting #Biore #Gorgeous #Giveaway ! 5 Winners will be announced! http://www.beautyfrosting.com/freeday-friday-biore-gorgeous-giveaway”

4) Comment below and say which steps above you did. You get one entry per step completed!

Winners will be announced Friday, March 8th!!

 

FREEday Friday: Mally Love Yourself Valentine’s Gorgeous Giveaway!

It’s time!
Time for another goooooorgeous giveaway!
This time it’s being sponsored from the marvelous Mally Beauty!

So whatcha’ get if you win?

 

Love yourself with Mally's Perfect Red Lip Kit & Evercolor Shadow Stick in Saddle!!

Mally’s Perfect Red Lip Kit and her Evercolor Shadow Stick in Saddle!!!!!

Perfect for keeping the romance of Valentine’s Day alive!

 Whatcha’ Gotta Do to Win?

2 steps!

1) Follow BF on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and tweet/post/pin “Win #BeautyFrosting #Mally #LOVEYOURSELF giveaway!” and reply in the comments below with:

“I’m following BF on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. This year for Valentine’s Day, I’m celebrating my love for myself by (fill in the blank).

That’s it!
The winner will be announced next Friday, February 15th!

May the force be with you!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What are you doing to celebrate your love for YOURSELF this year? 

I’ll be telling you what I’ll be doing next week!

FREEday Friday: V05 Gorgeous Giveaway!

Happy Friday, beauties!

It’s  FREEday Friday Gorgeous Giveaway time!
This time, our oh-so-gorgeous giveaway is sponsored by V05 who gives us va-va-voom hair!
Did you see my review on Wednesday of their Kiwi Lime Squeeze Clarifying Shampoo & Conditioner? 

Well, now those pretty, purifying products can be yours along with the eternally classic V05 Hot Oil treatment!!

All you need to do to win is the following:

1) Follow BeautyFrosting on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BeautyFrosting and post on your timeline, I just entered to win @BeautyFrosting #V05GorgeousGiveaway.

2) Follow BeautyFrosting on Twitter at: www.Twitter.com/BeautyFrosting and RETWEET:

I just entered to win @BeautyFrosting #V05GorgeousGiveaway.

3) Follow BeautyFrosting on Pinterest at: www.Pinterest.com/BeautyFrosting and pin one of the images of V05 on this page with this as your description: Repin to Win! I just entered to win @BeautyFrosting #V05GorgeousGiveaway

4) Follow BeautyFrosting on Instagram and post a V05 pic from this page and  Win V05! I just entered to win @BeautyFrosting #V05GorgeousGiveaway #FREE #BeautyFrosting #beautycontest #beautygiveaway

You can do any of all of these and each time you do it, you’re entered to win!
Yaya!!!

The winner will be announced, here on BeautyFrosting, NEXT Friday, January 25th!
Happy, happy Friday!

xoxo,
BF

Tress Tuesday: TRESemme Style Studio to the rescue!

I love beauty. Oh, how I love it! But when it comes to my hair, I am a 5-year-old child.

I know how to (very basically) blow-dry my hair, roll my hair, use a flatiron to straighten and throw my hair up into a ponytail for pilates. But when it comes to all of those gorgeous styles I see on Pinterest – you know the ones – beachy waves,  feathered hair, fishtail braid, hairline braid, etc. – I am lost.

Even when it comes to curling my hair, putting in bobby pins or doing a simple braid, I am clueless. It’s like my brain will just not convey the message to my hands.

For years, people have asked me “How can you know so much about makeup & skincare and know SO LITTLE about how to do your own hair?”

Well, lucky for me – and all of you fellow clueless hair architects out there – we now have a go-to spot for our tress training.

To our rescue: TRESemme Style Studio

To our rescue: TRESemme Style Studio

TRESemme’s new TRESemme Style Studio has over 100 how-to video tutorials to help you (and me) with whatever hairstyle we wish to don that day!

Over 100 Hair Tutorial How-To videos (most around 2 minutes or less)

Over 100 Hair Tutorial How-To videos (most around 2 minutes or less)

At around 2 minutes or less (for the most part), this new hairstyle tutorial site seamlessly breaks down the steps, tools and products you need to make that hairstyle you dream about a reality.

You can even use your webcam to style along with the stylist teaching the steps of the look!
How 21st century is that??!!

Another option I know I’m gonna need? I can choose to either watch the video through continuous play or see it Step-by-Step with each step broken down for me. Need that! Love that!

You can also try the Instant Styler where you can upload a picture of yourself and instantly see how you will look with any style.

TRESemme Style Studio Instant Styler is instant FUN!!!

 

Hmmm…I don’t think I was meant to be a blonde. Thoughts?

BeautyFrosting: BEFORE (brunette) and AFTER (baby blonde) thanks to TRESemme Style Studio!

Or virtually “try out” some of TRESemme’s most beloved products to see how they will work on your hair.

As for the how-to videos, I can’t wait to try Feathered because I loooooove me some Jaclyn Smith!

Other TRESemme Style Studio I can’t wait to try? Click on the look to check out the video.

*Bombshell

*Glamorous Faux Bob

*Loose Boho Waves Long

*Retro Pin-Up Look

*Beehive

*French Twist

*Hairline Braid

and

*Volume on Top Ponytail: which makes me think of that awesome ponytail that Natalie Maines, of the Dixie Chicks, rocked on the “Top of The World” tour!

Also, TRESemme is helping us girls out with their tutorials on Flat Iron Curling Tips, Hair Teasing Tips and Growing Out Bangs Tips. Yes, please and thank you.

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Basically, for those of you who love Pinterest like I do, this is your new way to spend HOURS!! Perfect for trying out ‘dos for your wedding, prom, homecoming, date, vacation or just a day at the office!

So enjoy this Tress Tuesday tip from me to you! I’m looking forward to trying out some of these looks myself and posting the before & after pics for you guys to enjoy. Hopefully, there won’t be too much laughter!

Try out a few styles for yourself, on TRESemme Style Studio and comment below or email me when you do. I want pictures, girls!!!!

 

xoxo,

BF

 

BF Asks: Which TRESemme Style Studio look are you most excited to try?