Swish Swish

I recently read an article at TreeHugger about a trend that has started in the UK called "swishing." Though fashion-related and not beauty-related article, it still caught my attention and I thought it was worth mentioning here.

Why "Swishing?"
The dictionary definition: To rustle, as silk. Swishing has been redefined by London's Futerra Sustainability Communications.
Swishing: To rustle clothes from friends.
The Swishing Organization points out: "According to the EPA Office of Solid Waste, Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year, and clothing and other textiles represent about 4% of the municipal solid waste. " Of course, you already bring your hand-me-downs to the local clothing recycling bin so they can go to a good cause. But there are usually a few pieces that you would like to know have found a good home. These are perfect Swishing fodder.

Wow, sounds great, no? When you think about it, it's a great way to build a sense of bonding between friends (even strangers) if you're exchanging clothes, and all the while you're helping decrease that 4% of municipal waste created by disposed-of clothing.

Going to a girl's boarding school, swishing is somewhat of a customary tradition. When getting ready for a date or special event, constant calls to borrow friends' clothing can be heard by numerous racing girls down the hall. I've also had friends simply give me clothes they don't wear anymore, and have had them become some of the favored articles in my wardrobe.

I think this sounds like a great idea, and am anxious to continue it on a greater scale. If you want to start swishing as well, click here and see how you can get started.


Last but not least, if you have never been to Sephora, go there now. Sephora offers all sorts of great products from classy brands such as Clinique all the way down to more rocker chic brands like Urban Decay. They also have their own great products, and have just come out with a pro's trick line, chock full with must-haves. What are you waiting for? Go go go!!

CoverGirl Color Match

I recently discovered Color Match by CoverGirl. This has got to be one of the easiest tools to use to find out just what shades of makeup match your skin tone, eye color, hair color, and even wardrobe! I just got matched, and I love the colors and products they recommend for me!

Not only do they tell you what your best shades are; they provide great custom tips and recommend products from their own lines. (Obviously a type of self-promotion, but still wonderful!) I was surprised to find that I already owned some of the products they recommended, in my matched shades. "Wow!" I grinned, "I'm doing better than I thought."

Here are some foundation tips that I was going to share anyway, and then found on Covergirl's tips. Yay!

• Change your foundation from winter to summer; you don't want to look paler than you are when you're out shopping for bikinis!


• Don't use your fingers to apply foundation. First of all, you end up transferring oil to your skin, and second, it's not as smooth an application. Use a sponge wedge or circle, because these provide smooth coverage.


• If you're not planning on wearing eyeshadow (or even if you are) use foundation on your eyelids as well as the rest of your face. It really brightens up your look!


• Make sure to blend your foundation well and not leave a line at the jaw; blend down slightly onto your neck so that you don't look like you're wearing a mask.


• On that note, when shopping for foundation, try holding the bottle up to your face in a mirror. Get the shade that matches perfectly; it doesn't matter if you want to look tanner hun. That's what bronzer is for.

My last piece of advice in this post: go check out CoverGirl's website and their Color Matching. Believe me, you won't regret it!

Beauty Tools

"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start." (Thanks, Julie Andrews)

Well, when it comes to beauty, you have to start at the beginning, with the basics. You can't successfully apply makeup, style your hair, or any of the things that us beauty fanatics simply must do if you don't have the right tools. Quality is also important, though some things can be stinged slightly. For example, quality brushes are always important, but you don't have to get all the different contouring brushes for eyes or cheeks; you can have your brushes multitask! Use your eyeshadow brush to highlight your cheeks, or use your powder brush for blush. As long as you take care of your tools, you can use them for more than one purpose.

So, what are the essentials? Here's a list of the basic tools that I keep in my makeup case:

• Compact pocket mirror


• Q-tips (e.g. for getting rid of those small mascara smudges)


• A couple cosmetic sponges (to fix bigger errors/apply foundation)


• A small pack of Kleenex or cotton pads


• Powder/Blush brush


• Eyeshadow brush


• Lip brush (if using lip gloss)


• Brow brush


• Nail clippers


• Nail file


• Small travel hairbrush

Some people may not find all of this necessary; for example, the brow brush, the lip brush, or the sponges. As long as you find what works best for you, make sure you keep track of what tools you need and make sure to always have them in good quality. This will ensure a good, smooth and seamless application of makeup, for example, and will prove useful in other beauty ventures.

And always remember to store your beauty tools well; this will keep them from becoming damaged and will keep them in good condition. Imagine finding out mid-blush-application that your favorite brush is losing hairs, right on your cheeks. No fun. So make sure that your tools are well kept.

The Beauty Blog

Welcome to Quelle Belle, which translates into "What Beauty!" I'm the girl who runs Just Another SevenTeen, my personal blog, and I am an avid makeup and beauty obsessor. So I thought I'd share my thoughts on what's out there today, my own personal makeup tips, some of the best skin care advice today, and more. Hope you enjoy and come back often!