Valentine's Day Gift Guide For Everyone

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14

1. Not even joking, these mugs are the BEST. They are sleek and functional, coming in a bunch of colors and keeping your favorite beverages at the perfect temperature. They’re a great gift for anyone that you love!

2. Poo-Pouri is thee perfect treat for everyone on your Valentine’s Day List: yourself, your Galentine’s, and especially your SO! In case you missed my IG post, I was shopping for it here. I love how it comes in a dual pack specially designed to trap unpleasant odors beneath the surface of the water, it includes the delightful scents of vanilla mint and lavender.

3. Planning a getaway? Treat your someone special with a new piece of Away luggage. I recently got this bag for my upcoming trip to Europe and I’m so excited to use it. It comes with a battery pack so you can stay charged on the go.

4. For the sentimental one on your list, put together a collage of your favorite images in this beautiful frame. I recently bought a similar one for my parents of wedding photos, it was a hit!

5. For the person who likes to have a little fun with their footwear, check out these heart socks. They’re unisex so they’re great for all!

6. THE BEST slippers of all time, for your favorite fella. No joke, these are seriously the most comfortable slippers you will ever own.

7. I’m not kidding, these slippers (for women) are the best. You can thank me later!

8. You’ve seen me talk about this brand over and over again, here’s one of my new favorites in a sassy red hot style! Be aware of the sizing, I wear a 34FF. Check out your local Nordstrom to get fitted if you are unsure.

9. Skincare is for EVERYONE! It’s important to take care of your skin. Relax and unwind with some of my favorites from this set.

10. Your pets need love too! I recently got my pup this bed and he’s quickly adjusted to the life of luxury. Your furry friend will thank you.

11. Gotta have some undies for the guys! These ones are Brian approved and come with a special “ball pouch” that keeps the boys tucked into place.

12. What’s a Valentine’s Day gift guide without a little sweetness? Take your chocolate game to the next level with these adorable chocolates.

13. These are my absolute favorite teeth whitening strips… They may not be the first gift idea that comes to mind but your loved one will appreciate them. I originally got them from my dentist but you can also get them here!

14. Sticking with the functional gifts, as spring approaches everyone needs an umbrella! I love how travel friendly these are and how many color variations they come in. Shop them here!

Are you loving this gift guide? Would love to hear any other gifts on your wish list! Thanks for choosing me to be your go to girl!

Try On Confidential: Updated Makeup Routine

Happy Friday, lovelies! Earlier this week, I announced on my IG stories that #TryOnConfidential will now be phasing into more holiday gift guides! Starting on Black Friday, I will be sharing gift guides every Wednesday and Friday. Be sure to tune into my stories (saved to a highlight) to see me discuss the items in detail!

Today’s post has been a very requested one: an updated makeup routine. My makeup routine can vary everyday, depending on what I have going on but I usually always prime, conceal, brush my brows and lashes! In order to apply flawless makeup, you need to make sure you’ve got your skincare routine down. In case you missed it, I shared my skincare here.

As a little disclaimer, I am NOT a professional makeup artist. With that said, I’ve sat countless hours in makeup chairs, learning about different techniques and products. I am also very passionate about makeup, I just love it! Applying makeup is an art form, it should make you feel good! This is how I apply and make myself feel pretty. You can click on the product images below to shop them directly!

Prime + Prep

People ask me all of the time, do you REALLY use a primer? Is it worth it? My answer: 200% yes. After you apply your skincare (cleanse, toner + moisturizer), you want to apply a primer to your skin and eyes. It helps lock in your skincare and allows your foundation to sit nicely on your skin, while helping it last!

Cover + Conceal

This is when you can apply a BB or CC cream or foundation. I’ve been playing around with a bunch of them. Here are some of my favorites below! I also have been trying tons of new concealers but I always go back to this NARS one.

Brows + Eyes

I’m constantly getting bored with eyeshadow palettes so I keep a few and rotate them so I can always keep things fresh. I usually use this brow gel for some light shaping of my eyebrows and I use this gel liner on the inside of my lids for a wide eye look!

Set the Wet

This step is SO IMPORTANT. Anytime you put anything wet on your face (foundation, concealer, etc) you want to make sure you’re setting it with a pressed or loose powder. This helps it set and helps it stay in place all day long. When I do this, I rarely ever need to touch up my face throughout the day.

Contour + Highlight

I also like to rotate through my face palettes but these ones are my tried and true. I like to apply my bronzer in a “3” formation on my forehead, cheeks and jawline. I then like to go in with a little blush + highlight on my high cheek bones.

Get Lippy

I’m not a huge lipstick person but I’ve recently become obsessed with lip liner, it lasts all day long! I then go in with a balm and or lipstick for an all day color!

Don’t forget about brushes + cleaning them!

What do you think about this routine? Have you tried any of these products? Would you try something new? Leave a comment below with any questions!

photo by Nicole LeBris Creative

Try On Confidential: Episode 11 - Easy Wave Hair Tutorial

Today’s Try On Confidential is taking a different approach but one that has been very much requested... I am BEYOND excited to finally show you how to achieve my easy waves in a hair tutorial. Be sure to tune into my Instagram Stories today to see how I do it. In case you miss it, I will save it as a highlight on my IG profile under “hair.”

My technique is very simple. I use an incredible curling wand made by Sultra Beauty. The Bombshell 1-inch curling rod lets you create beachy curls and waves in half the time of a traditional curling iron with no clip lines or dents while styling. The reason why this iron is superior to others that I’ve tried is because of its even heat distribution, it ensures your curls and waves are consistently true to rod size for that easy breezy look. This also helps cut down on the amount of product/ hair spray I use. I have super fine and flat hair - my waves (with minimal product) last 2-3 days!

Step 1: Use a heat protectant.

It’s really important to use a heat protectant spray when you’re using hot tools. It forms a protective barrier over the cuticle on the hair strand, preventing heat damage and enabling your hair to keep its shine. I usually prefer curling my hair the day after I wash it, so I apply it when its wet but it all depends on your preference. These curls usually last a few days so I can go about three days in between washes with my favorite dry shampoo!

Step 2: Brush and section hair but putting half into a clip or ponytail holder.

Depending on how much hair you have, you may want to do your waves in “batches.” It makes it a little easier and this is a great way to avoid missing any pieces!

Step 3: Grab a bunch of hair (about one inch wide) and twist hair section around the wand, away from your face.

You want the wand to be vertical and you want to wrap the strands around and away.

Step 4: Repeat!

Keep grabbing one inch sections until your entire head is complete! Don’t forget about the back.

SHOP MY FAVORITE 1 INCH CURLER:

SHOP MY OTHER HAIR FAVS:

What did you think of this tutorial? Would you like to see more beauty content from me? Leave a comment below!

Try On Confidential - Episode 8: Skincare Routine

If you caught my “Let’s Get Caught Up” post on Monday, you’d know that I’ve been traveling a lot. This week, I modeled two days in Miami and then I flew across country for another modeling job in San Francisco this weekend. I knew with this week’s try on, I would have to get a little creative considering I only was able to travel with a carry on for six days.

Therefore, you voted on my stories that you were interested in me dabbling into my beauty and skincare routines. I’ve decided to share my skincare routine, keeping up with my skin while traveling and my travel kit! A bunch of you were requesting my makeup routine- that is coming soon but I wanted to focus on skincare first. You can’t have a gorgeous face of makeup until you have your skin down first!

Let’s begin with skin

I discovered Drunk Elephant less than four months ago and I’ve been amazed by the results. I’ve always had pretty decent skin, I identify as “combination sensitive,” with an oily T-zone and the occasional hormonal breakout. Ever since I started using these Drunk Elephant products, I literally get stopped in the street by strangers to tell me I have beautiful skin. The first product that made me a believer was the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil- but we’ll get to that shortly.

Morning routine:

I always start my morning off my washing my face with a gentle cleanser. I use Checks and Balances by Origins one or Purity Made Simple by Philosophy.

I then tone the skin with this gentle, alcohol-free toner and a cotton square—it has purifying chamomile and linden extracts—to remove every last trace of cleanser, leaving skin pH balanced, de-stressed, and spa-refreshed. If you use a toner, you should NEVER feel dry or tightness after.

I recently started using this duo in the morning and I definitely feel like my skin has been brighter. I also started adding Di-Bronzi into one of serums to give my face that “sunkissed glow.” My face is actually 3-4 shades darker than the rest of my body because I never tan my face so this helps me even my color out.

My skin is now primed and prepped to put on makeup or just breathe for the day.

Evening routine:

It is SO important to wash your face from the day, whether you wear makeup or not. I usually use the same cleanser from the morning but then I also use a Neutrogena makeup removing wipe to make sure I get everything. If I’m feeling ambitious, I will also tone and throw T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum on. At the very least, I ALWAYS remember to put on this Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. I was super skeptical about oils because of my combination skin but I seriously wake up GLOWING! It’s magical.

If you’re interested to try Drunk Elephant products but are a little unsure of the price tag, these sample kits are a great way to try the brand without having to commit to each of the items. If you’re going to splurge on one though, I’d highly recommend giving the oil a try. It seriously works on every skin type, my skin hasn’t been the same since.

Here is my favorite travel case for beauty products, it hold EVERYTHING in a way that you can actually see!

Are you loving this beauty content? What products are you interested in trying? Leave your feedback below!

My Favorite Beauty Secrets (Part 1: Skin)

One of the best parts about being a model is that I have access to some of the top hair and makeup artists in the industry. Every time I sit in their chair, I learn new techniques and about new skincare and beauty products. With that said, I am often asked about my favorite products so I've decided to compile a list to share with you! These are actual products that I use every day and this post is NOT sponsored. I just wanted to share the love! I could seriously write a novel about how many products I love, so I've decided to categorize these into three different posts. These products are all included in my every day skincare routine. Stay tuned for part two/ three: my favorite makeup and hair products! Click on the titles to purchase. 

SKIN:

One could say that I have a pretty high maintenance beauty routine. It takes me a good 10 minutes to get ready for bed. I truly believe in taking care of your skin and making sure you're washing off the makeup & dirt! Here's what I have been using every day:

ORIGINS Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash, $23

Why I love it: it gently yet efficiently cleans my skin without making it feel overly dry. 

What it is:
A face cleanser that cleverly balances dry and oily skin. 

CLARINS Toning Lotion with Camomile, $26

Why I love it: I use this with a cotton round to get off any extra bit of dirt/ grime from the day, makes my skin feel refreshed. The alcohol free formula prevents it from feeling dry.

What it is:
A gentle, alcohol-free toner—with purifying chamomile and linden extracts—to remove every last trace of cleanser, leaving skin pH balanced, de-stressed, and spa-refreshed. 

DAY (applied before makeup) 

CLARINS Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50, $43

Why I love it: It is a lightweight moisturizer that does the job- moisturizes, protects and sits well underneath my makeup. 

What it is:
A versatile sunscreen to protect from UVA/UVB rays, pollution, and free radicals while improving skin’s texture and tone. 
 

For days when there's a lot of makeup, I use: 

NEUTROGENA Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $6

Why I love it: There are some days when I have so much makeup on, I need all hands on deck to get it off. These gentle wipes get EVERYTHING off. They leave my skin feeling refreshed, never dry. 

What it is: A gentle, ultra soft makeup remover wipe that effectively dissolves 99.3% of your most stubborn makeup, even waterproof mascara - for clean, fresh looking skin in just one simple step. It leaves skin thoroughly clean with no heavy residue, so there's no need to rinse! Plus they’re gentle enough to use around the sensitive eye area, even if you wear contacts.

NIGHT (applied before bed)

SUNDAY RILEY Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $105

Why I love it: It is never too early to start anti-aging! I love this oil so much! It applies easily, smells amazing and I've noticed a significant difference in my skin. 

What it is: 
A next-generation retinol oil that boosts the look and feel of skin plumpness, while improving the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and pores for visibly younger-looking skin. 

SKIN / FACE:

TRISH McEVOY Beauty Balm Instant Solutions® SPF 35, $86
Shade 1.5

Why I love it: Yes, this is makeup. However, technically it is skincare. It does INCREDIBLE things to your skin. I never believed in BB / CC creams until I found this. It has buildable coverage- you can wear a little or a lot. I also receive compliments whenever I wear it. Does good and feels good- how can you not?

What it is:
 An all-in-one skin perfecter that instantly primes, brightens, evens, hydrates and controls oil. Rejuvenating peptides improve skin’s texture quality over time while SPF helps prevent sun damage. Worn under foundation or alone, it minimizes shine and delivers a look of healthy, natural coverage with a velvety finish.

Welcome to CaralynMirand.com!

I’ve decided to re-launch my website under my own name because who I am and what I do has truly evolved within the past two years. I have slightly outgrown “Buffalo Beautiful” and my focus has shifted onto other things, in and out of Buffalo. I’m incredibly excited to share CaralynMirand.com with you, here’s what to expect:

• A more “behind the scenes” approach to my life as a model

• Beauty hacks, tips and tricks that I have learned

• My style journey beyond just clothes, inspirational things too!

• A glimpse into my social media consultations, clients and brand partnerships

• My family/ home life, recipes I love and traditions we share

• My wedding journey! Especially excited to share this one with you!

• More than occasional appearances of my rescue dog, Walter
   

I can't wait to go on this new journey with you! 

As always, I LOVE hearing your feedback! I am incredibly grateful to have built a social media presence with such engaging and supportive people! I will be counting on you throughout this journey to hear what you like and more of what you’d like to see. Here’s to the start of something special!