Amber Luse

What is Color Analysis?

Color analysis is a service that is provided to determine what colors look best on you by draping you in different colors. A 16-season color analysis breaks the typically 4 seasons into 3 sub-categories and 1 true category.

1. Determine skin undertone by testing warm colors with cool colors
1. Warm - Spring, Autumn
2. Cool - Summer, Winter
2. Determine skin intensity/contrast. Do you have high contrast between your eyes, hair, and skin, or low contrast?
1. High contrast - Spring, Winter
2. Low contrast - Summer, Autumn
3. Determine what sub-category you are in
1. For example, the Winter palette has Winter Cool, Winter Deep, and Winter Clear. If none of these sub-categories stand out, then you would be a True Winter

How I Found Color Analysis Services Under $100

I took to Etsy to see if I could find an affordable color analysis service... and I did! Bonus, she was running (and still is) a 50% off sale. Here's The Link

The Process + What to Expect

1. Place the order
1. Once the order is placed, Kadri will send you an Etsy message with instructions included
2. You have 2 weeks to complete and submit the required materials to her.
2. Send the required materials
1. Kadri will ask for a photo in natural shaded light (by a window) wearing neutral clothing and a blank expression.
2. She will also ask for childhood photos, photos where you feel you look the best, photos you feel you looked the worst, and photos of you draped in different colors from your closet. 
3. She will provide a list of preferable colors
3. Wait for the results
1. Once you submit your materials to her, she will begin her magic. 
2. I received my result back less than 5 business days after I submitted my materials. 
3. She will send your results in a PDF file and is very open to conversation about how you got the result that you got.

My Results

I am a ... True Winter. My undertone is cool and I have medium-deep intensity and chroma.

I first saw this dupe around the holidays and immediately knew I had to have it! However, with Christmas right around the corner, I wasn't able to find it at Sam's Club. This was really unfortunate because the only reason why we got a membership was so I could get the bag (we are Costco people). I told myself that I would just have to keep an eye out for it. The other day Steven and I were at Sam's to pick up some oil for Steven's Jeep when we spotted it!

I realized when Steven and I were in Bald Head Island that I needed prescription sunglasses or transition lenses. As soon as I got home I went to Eye Buy Direct to start looking for a solution to my problem. Opting for something more affordable I decided to go with the basic transition lense. 

Kenneth Frames | Coffee

   

   

My favorite is the Tower frames! For context, I have been wearing the Follow frames since September 22'. I really love how visual the selection process is and how you can add specific measurements. 

I had a pair of transition lenses from a different brand when I was in high school. The lenses took forever to transition and I just didn't like the way that they looked on me. However, these glasses from Eye Buy Direct are perfect. I do wish that the lenses got darker than what they do but then they would take longer to transition. Also, the Kenneth frames are a bit heavy and tend to slide down the nose bridge easily. Many people in the comments of the review section said that they added bridge pads to the frames. Overall, I am happy with my purchase.

  

  

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored and these are NOT affiliate links. I've been purchasing from Eye Buy Direct since 2019 as they are very affordable and easy to work with.

Photo Credit: Unsplash | Parker Coffman

If you are like me and live in a hotter climate, the weather is already starting to get unbearable. My plan for survival this summer is to live in these fabrics! Many of these fabrics I have already managed to find at my local thrift store so always keep your eyes out!

Fabrics To Look For

• Merino Wool (the #1 pick)
  • Breathable
  • Light Weight
  • Moisture Wicking
  • Regulates Body Temperature
  • Odor Resistant
  • Durable
• Linen
  • Breathable
  • Light Weight
  • Durable
  • Odor Resistant
• Chambray (great alternative to denim)
  • Breathable
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
• Cotton
  • Breathable
  • Light Weight
  • Durable
• Rayon + Viscose
  • Breathable
  • Lightweight

Bonus: Many of these fabrics can be found at your local thrift store! Just be sure to always check the label.

Fabrics to Avoid

• polyester
• acrylic
• vinyl
• nylon
• fleece

These fabrics are all made up of plastic fibers that trap heat and odor. Also, these synthetic fabrics are bad for the environment.

Let me know what you think of my list and if you have anything to add. How will you be keeping cool this summer?

With summer right around the corner, it's time to give your perfume collection a refresh. Here are just a few of my favorite inexpensive fragrances that will help you feel and smell your best (on a budget)! This list includes a few dupes as well ( + a FREE Bath & Body Works dupe list).

Let's Connect in the Comments:

Bald Head Island is a beautiful and quaint island nestled off the coast of North Carolina. This island has no shortage of breathtaking views and lush greenery. The island has a very nice atmosphere that is relaxing and exciting. While Steven and I were driving around in our golf cart, I felt like we were on a jungle safari or national park. 

Quick Note

Steven and I didn't really plan this trip so I don't think we got the full experience. Many of the girls where I work recommended it to me so we decided to go while he was on spring break.

The Ferry

The Ferry boards at Deep Point Marina and runs on the hour every hour, except 12pm, from 7am-11pm. We made the mistake of arriving at 12pm so we did have to wait until 1pm to board the ferry. The waiting area was very nice and had a cafe/snack bar that had just about everything. I would say their food options and quality was better than that of the islands (we will talk more about that later). Boarding the ferry was a breeze and the views along the way were relaxing.

Travel Around The Island

With limited vehicle access, the island offers a peaceful and relaxing getaway. There are very few cars on the island (mostly contractor vehicles) so visitors are urged to rent bikes, electric scooters, or golf carts. Steven and I rented a golf cart while we were on the island. The only downside is that the golf cart had to be returned by 4pm and well... we arrived on the island at 2pm. (again, bad planning on my part). However, we are very thankful that Steven's mom paid for our golf cart as a gift.

  

What We Did 

For the most part, Steven and I just enjoyed a relaxing day riding around in the golf cart and exploring the island. Since Steven is a historian we stopped by the Old Baldy Lighthouse and Museum to read up on the local history and climb up the lighthouse. The climb surprisingly wasn't too bad, however before getting to the top, you do have to climb up a ladder through a square cutout. The birdseye view from the lighthouse was unreal. After that, we went to the beach to watch the waves crashing. Compared to Myrtle Beach, Bald Head Island's beach is sandier and not as crowded with condos and hotels. There is a lot of space on the beach to spread out and set up your own little area. By that time, It was time to return the golf cart, so we grabbed food and then departed.

    

Things To Do

• Old Baldy Lighthouse: climb to the top for stunning views of the island and ocean
• East Beach: enjoy a day of swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing
• Marsh Walk: take a guided tour to learn about the island's unique ecosystem
• Maritime Market: shop for souvenirs and grab a bite to eat at this local marketplace
• Bald Head Island Conservancy: participate in educational programs and explore the island's wildlife

Where We Ate

As I mentioned earlier we had lunch while waiting for the ferry and then we had dinner on the island. There are many restaurants on the island (yet the map doesn't show them all) and only, to our knowledge one of them was open. We ate at Jules' Salty Grub & Island Pub, The food was decent however the service could have been better. There weren't many people in the restaurant and most of them were at the bar being served by the bartender. Our server wasn't very attentive but was kind. Since we were waiting for the departure ferry we weren't too put off by this. However, next time, I think it would just be best to pack our own meals and have a picnic on the beach. While we were boarding the ferry to the island, I did notice that everyone had coolers. 

How Much It Cost

• Ferry - $23/person round trip (Total: $46)
• Snack Bar - $25 (2 meals + 2 drinks + cheesecake)
• Golf Cart Rental - $92 for the day (we only spent 2 hours on the island w/ the golf cart)
• Old Baldy Museum/Lighthouse - $8/each (Total: $16)
• Dinner - Around $70 (2 meals + 2 drinks + hushpuppies + lava cake)
• Parking - $12/day
• TOTAL: $261 for roughly 4 hours spent on the Island (2pm - 6pm)

Final Thoughts

Overall I think if we (*couch... I) would have planned better, the trip would have been even better! We enjoyed the much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives. While doing research for this blog post, I realized that Steven and I missed out on quite a few things. The map that we used that day must have been old because there wasn't a lot on it. I definitely think that Bald Head Island is a great destination if planned properly.

Let me know down below: Have you ever been to Bald Head Island? If yes, do you have any tips? If not, does it sound like somewhere you would like to visit?

Here are a few of my favorite pics from my most recent brand photoshoot. Links to everything will be down below. I hope you enjoy!

  

  

  

  

    

    

Outfit

White button-up | Summersalt

Black one-shoulder top | H&M

Black trousers | Max Studios from TJ Maxx

Black block heels 

Jeans | Lee/Wrangler

Blazer | Thrifted

Crossbody bag | Like Dreams from TJ Maxx

Tote bag | Kate Spade

Accessories

Earrings | Thrifted

Watch | Thrifted

Wedding ring + band

Makeup

Foundation | Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation 4N1

Concealer | Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer CN74

Blush | L.A Girl Velvet Blush Stick Shade: Dreamy

Eyeshadow + Liner | Jordana Cosmetics

Eyebrows | Elf Instant Lift Brow Pencil

Setting Spray | Elf Makeup Mist & Set

Mascara | Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

Equipment 

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S22

Photographer: My mom 💖

Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom

Preset: Devoted #11 by TheWayfarer Shoppe or you can get the same look with A4 from VSCO