Posted 119 days ago by Amanda Raye

I’m loving the off-beat lipstick color trend and am hoping it takes over. Doe Deere of Lime Crime Cosmetics really got it right!

Buying the real thing is clearly better, but if you don’t live near a Space.NK to try it on, don’t like ordering on-line, or just don’t have an extra $20 laying around — This is my tutorial.

The Wonderful World of Lime Crime Cosmetics

Lady Gaga is wearing D’lilac, Ke$ha is wearing No She Didn’t, and I’m wearing Cosmopop — all by Lime Crime.

Below is a sample of some off-beat lipstick colors from the Bloomingdale’s in Soho. The first row is Lime Crime and the second row is MAC. I absolutely love the blue!

What You’ll Need

• Eyelid Primer (preferably e.l.f. since it’s only $1)
• An eyeshadow color of your choice (I used a blue and a lime green from an e.l.f. eyeshadow palette)

Directions

1. Apply eyelid primer to lips like you would a lip gloss
2. Wait about 30 seconds for it to dry
3. Choose a vibrant eyeshadow color
4. Apply eyeshadow to lips as you would your eyes. Applying about 3 layers does the trick.

You just created your own off-beat lipstick color!

Examples

Let us know in the comments if you gave this tutorial a try!

Posted 132 days ago by Amanda Raye

Who doesn’t love their hair after a day at the beach? Don’t waste your money on the expensive “beach wave” products. Do it the Broke & Chic way!

What You Need:

• Small empty spray bottle (3 oz)
• Sea salt
• Warm water

Directions:

1. Fill the spray bottle with warm water.
2. Add about 2 tablespoons of sea salt.
3. Let sit for about 5 minuets. (or until the salt has dissolved)
4. Shake it up.

How To Use:

Shampoo and condition before bed and towel dry as usual. Evenly distribute salt water spray into hair. If you have curly/wavy hair, use a smoothing balm or leave-in conditioner before the spray (to prevent frizz).

Once evenly distributed, brush through hair and put it in a braid. In the morning you’ll have beautiful hair that’s full of texture and volume.

*If your hair isn’t fully dry when you wake up, use your blow dryer with hight heat and low air.

Do you have any beauty tips to share with Broke & Chic readers? Email hey@brokeandchic.com for a possible feature!

Posted 452 days ago by Amanda Raye

Last week, Broke & Chic meet up with one of New York’s most stylish residents: Katie is a 25 year-old budget friendly fashionista living and working in Manhattan. She loves good design, organization and diy projects.

I’d rather make something myself than pay for it. I hate going into Urban Outfitters and West Elm and seeing things that are $250 dollars that I could easily make myself.

Katie has lived in this Washington Heights apartment for about 2.5 years. Her room reminded me of those cute boutiques in the East Village with artfully displayed vintage jewelry, accessories and even furniture. Each corner has it’s own personal touch. Nothing has been left unstyled. She even spent an afternoon putting up shelves to display her shoes instead of just throwing them into a corner or closet!

Learn how to make your own clothes line photo display here.

 Q&A

B&C: Where did you get all these vintage treasures?

K: Every time I go on vacation I always try and purchase a vintage scarf. The rest are either from my grandma or the small vintage store where I’m from.

B&C: What’s your favorite part of your bedroom?

K: I love the chalkboard wall. Chalkboard paint is really cheap and you can have endless fun with it.

B&C: What are your favorite accessories?

K: Head accessories such as hats, headbands, and flowers. They’re my new fashion obsession!

B&C: What DIY project are you most proud of?

K: The shoe shelf!

What’s your favorite part of Katie’s bedroom? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Posted 459 days ago by Amanda Raye

Meet Allie, a high school sophomore living in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. She moved here over a year ago with her mom from a small southern town.

Moving to New York was a big change for me. Not only did I have to say “good bye” to lifelong friends, but I had to learn an entirely different lifestyle. New York has really helped me figure out who I am. I think it’s giving me a head start on my future!

Allie is in a positon where she can’t paint, and as a teenage girl, her room means everything to her! Broke & Chic got an inside look as to how she made it all her own.

I really had to use my brain to make it all my own. I love spending my weekends doing d.i.y projects to make my room more represent me. I’ve gotten quite a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest and my stylish older sister. I love being true to myself, so after we moved we had a popular artist, Eliza B. Askin, draw a picture of our old house so I could always remember my southern roots.

B&C: What’s your favorite thing in your room?

Allie: My favorite thing in my room is the a canvas I made!

Posted 486 days ago by Amanda Raye

1. Reverse-Ombré

Out with the old, in with the new. That’s right, light on top, dark on the bottom. We’ve taken advantage of the ombré, now it needs a vacation. Vamp it up by…reversing it!

Check out Salon Apprentice for an affordable colorist. Or stop into your local salon and ask if they have an apprentice with lower prices!

2. Matte Nails

We effortlessly change our nail polish colors with the season — brights for summer, pastels for spring, darks for fall and winter…but we always finish our manicures with a shiny top coat.

Now it’s time for something different: for 2012 it’s all about a dull flat finish. The matte top coat has been around for years, but it just hasn’t caught on until now. Just paint your nail with your go-to color, but instead of the usual shiny luster, top it with the $2 Matte Top Coat by eyes. lips. face! Have fun!

3. Cher Hair

Long , short, bangs, center part, straight, curly, wavy, blonde, red…it never ends, we’ll always be changing our hair, from its length to its color.

Celebs have been rocking soft waves for quite a few years — not any more. It all about pin-straight, long hair with a center part and amazing shine. Just like our trendy moms before us it’s time to take out the clothes iron *cough*…I mean flat iron.

Remember: Your hair is very fragile, always protect it with a serum before you put any sort of heat to it. I really like the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum, only $6 at your local Wal-Mart or Target.

4. Slicked-Back Pixies

Short hair can be worn in so many different ways. Follow Emma Watson’s footsteps by going short and slick…tuxedo style! Try the Catwalk Session Series Wet Look Gel. About $14 at Ricky’s NYC

5. Burgundy Lips

2011 was all about bubble-gum-pink lips, but now it’s time for a change. Red will always be a classic, but dark red adds mystery to your look, and makes your skin tone pop!

Don’t have burgundy lipstick lying around? Put on your favorite red lipstick and then top it with a line of black eyeliner. Once you blend it together you’ll have a perfect dark red pout. Add more black eyeliner for an even deeper shade. Thumbs up if you have black lipstick laying around — It’ll be easier to blend.

Keep all stocked up on beauty products using beauty coupons to save money.

Posted 577 days ago by Amanda Raye

Hair is no doubt a women’s favorite accessory, so why don’t we take better care of it? If your hair has been feeling dry, brittle and frizzy due to countless hours of blow drying and straightening, it’s time to give your hair a few hours of pampering.

Instead of rushing to the beauty section of Target for a hair mask, or to your favorite salon for a pricy deep conditioning treatment, go into your kitchen instead! Cooking oil can do wonders for your hair!

Olive, canola, vegetable, almond, whatever it may be can just be added to your conditioner to make your hair happy, healthy and moisturized!

Here’s how!

Directions

1. Add 3 tbs of oil to 1/4 cup of conditioner 
2. Apply mixture to clean wet hair
3. Clip hair into a bun or twist
4. Cover hair with a shower cap (Don’t own one? Just wrap hair with saran wrap.)
5. Wrap covered hair with a towel to keep in warmth
6. Leave on hair for at least 30 minuets and up to 8 hours
7. Rinse hair, and style as usual

Do this treatment about twice a month!

Posted 648 days ago by Amanda Raye

Here’s a fun and cheap project to do with a spare hour! I made mine about two years ago, before I lived in Manhattan — This means I can’t give you a video since I no longer have an oven. But don’t worry! It’s totally simple!

What You Need

• Cookie Sheet
• Metal bowl
• Old Record (usually only $1 at thrift stores)
• Oven
• Oven Mits

Directions

1. Set your oven to 200 degrees
2. Wait till the pre-heat timer goes off
3. Place metal bowl face down on cookie sheet
4. Put record on bottom of bowl
5. Place in oven for 8 minuets
6. Take out as fast as you can and shape record around bowl (record dries fast)
7. Let sit for about 15 minuets
8. Now you have a cool bowl! I use mine to store makeup!

photo credit: casasugar

Need more help? Just click the link below.

DIY: Record Bowl