(Re)discovery

  

    Remember "mood" lipstick? It's back, baby! This season's popular shocking pink lip can be gotten for a few dollars. These things RULE! Some vendors have a little chart showing you which bizarre color turns which shade of coral or pink.

      I got a baby blue one today that morphs into a neon pink combination of lip-stain and lip-gloss. After it sets, you can blot off some of the shine to get that "bitten" look. But remember, don't test them on your hand, it can be really hard to remove later! 

Happy October

      Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'd like to present OPI's Pink of Hearts, proceeds from the sales of which goes to breast cancer cure research. 

       I was on a lovely perusal of this odd little beauty supply shop by the movie theater today (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, it was pretty cute, gotta love those two but that whole schtick is getting pretty banal; the drunk chick saved it), and while the cashier was ringing up my purchases I spotted it on the counter: the most perfect, classic ballet pink polish. 

Perfect product placement for once! But let me tell you, breast cancer is the only way I'd buy an $8 bottle of nail polish, no matter HOW perfect the pink...

Pantene Nation

Allure magazine endlessly touts Pantene as the best hair care brand in its annual beauty poll. While many experts say Pantene is actually not restorative but destructive, I had my doubts about using it. A boyfriend's careless purchase of it convinced me to use some; his hair smelled so good!

In my pursuit of growing out healthy hair, I decided to try Pantene's Beautiful Lengths shampoo and conditioner, which has a nice creamy lather and isn't drying. However, I rarely wash my hair more than once a week, so I can't be getting the results Pantene pledges through five or six uses. I needed a creamy hair mask as well, to try to undo some of the damage to my poor over processed hair.

Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask made a noticeable difference in the condition of my hair after just one use in the shower. No half-hour spent with my head in a hot towel or a heavy residue left behind. Just silkier, smoother hair and yep, a delicious scent too!

I might have to give the shampoo and conditioner a shot, too.

Clinique Almost Powder Makeup 5 Stars!

I was lured to the shiny, perfumed section of makeup counters in Macy's the other day because of two reasons: I spilled my loose powder foundation ALL over my white robe and bathroom counter one too many times, and advertising.

Clinique's NEW Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 was shown alongside a nifty little sample on a card inside a magazine. I liked the powder's finish so much that I had to investigate.

This powder foundation is super light with a silky, soft-focus finish as well as commendable building power. The accompanying sponge wiped out my under-eye circles and spotty redness, and it works well with brushes as well. I can condone the price as well; $22.50 these days isn't the worst damage you can do to your beauty budget.

Staple of the Week

Cover Girl Perfect Blend eyeliner

This basic Cover Girl pencil in black-brown is my cheap little secret.

The soft formula and handy sponge blending tip gives the perfectsmoky, yet natural smudgy eye. Remember: In regards to makeup, the only hard edges should be on your compact. And at $4, this pencil lets me save my money for my wishlist items!

Tip of the Week #1

For a luminous effect, apply powder highlighter on your cheekbones before applying other face makeup.

Before I apply mineral foundation, blush and bronzer, I apply a pearly highlighter under my eyebrows, on the inner corner of my eyes and high up on my cheeks.

The effect is a really natural glow, especially after a mist of water or a pat of lotion to up the dewiness-factor. The light color near the eyes also emphasizes the whites of the eyes and detracts attention from dark circles.

[Also, if you have a "bigger" nose like I do, I have a great tip from Jennifer Lopez's makeup artist: Blend a small amount of highlighter on the tip of your nose to create the illusion of a more button nose shape.]







While I've been using a pearly white eyeshadow from L'Oreal as my highlighter to test this new beauty tip, I am considering some more appropriate upgrades. Benefit's Dandelion, a soft shimmery pink highlighter in an adorable package, is high on the list.





However, Guerlain's Terracotta Blush & Sun comes in three deeper shades from shimmering peach to dusky rose, which might allow me to combine a step and throw out my bronzer.

Wishlist

Right now I am craving these new items:

Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation UVA/UVB SPF 15, which gives a
creamy, natural semi0matte finish and protects skin with chemical-free mineral sun protection. Available for a disheartening $38 at smashbox.com. (I'm getting really tired of loose mineral makeup since it's messy and hard to travel with. Living between my house, my boyfriend's house, and 10 hour workdays, I want a good makeup that's much more practical).

Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser. I've been plagued with blackheads on my nose since I was in my early teens, which is no longer in my near past. I thought acne was supposed to go away with age! Anyway, this product looks sufficiently interesting to pique my interest. Besides, I have a love of gadgets, and this one both vibrates, cleanses, and applies blackhead madication! $19.99 at most drugstores, I just scored a $5 off coupon on cleanandclear.com.

La Mer Miraculous Beginnings, oh the luxury! This $325 kit contains travel sizes of Crème de la Mer, The Cleansing gel, The Tonic, The Oil Obsorbing Lotion, The Lifting Face Serum, The Lifting Intensifier and the Eye Concentrate.

As age twenty-five quickly approaches and I'm starting to see my smile lines remain after I've stopped smiling, I need to get serious about my health, and that includes my skin. As some great beauty once said, you only get one face, so take care of it.

Revlon Lash Fanstasy - Follow-Up

I prescribe giving the waterproof formula a shot.

Since I started using it three weeks ago, Revlon Lash Fantasy Total Definition mascara has become my new favorite lash-lengthener. I've been converted by it's primer formula and the long, defined, inky black results I get.

I've found that waterproof formulas usually give a more false eyelash effect, and I used to be a devote. Due to their nature, waterproof formulas are generally drying and hard to remove, so I stopped using them a few years ago. But a light rain a few days ago remined me that winter is coming, and I don't want to be worrying about my mascara running.

I am going to purchase the Revlon Lash Fantasy waterproof formula because I also got my little hands on Sonia Kashuk's Remove Eye Makeup Remover, available at Target, which really cuts through waterproof makeup and leaves the eye area smooth and moisturized. The water- and silicone-based formula is also gentle on the fragile skin around the eyes and reduces lash breakage. A little pricey to me at $9.99, but still worth it ;]

Project Hair Goddess: Part Une

After six years of thermal reconditioning treatments, heat styling, black hair dye and a recent round with bleach, last night I chopped off what was left of the chemically straightened hair. I haven't had hair this short since I was in kindergarten, and I feel as naked now as I did then.
My hair is naturally a frizzy/curly/wavy disaster, and while I am not ready to go so far as to chuck my flat iron or buzz my head, I am pretty tired of constant root touch-ups and the unhealthy, dull state of my hair. My newest goal is to grow my hair out as long as possible, work with it's natural texture, and get it shades closer to my natural hue

I'm aiming for something akin to Sarah Jessica Parker's hair in the SATC movie:

And this, alas, is my hair right now:It's going to be a long, long journey, I know.

My hair rehab involves several steps:

• Monthly 1/4-inch trims to keep ratty ends under control.


• Pantene Beautiful Lengths shampoo & conditioner, which is supposed to make hair ten times stronger against damage using new Aquacurrent technology. Plus, part of the proceeds from the sale of Pantene's line is donated to the Beautiful Lengths program which provides wigs to women undergoing cancer treatment. Learn more about the program at BeautifulLengths.com.

• Scalp Care including massage, vitamins and conditioning masks. Healthy hair starts at the root, and heightening blood flow and nutrients can only do good for me and my body.
  


• Queen Helene Cholesterol Hair Conditioning Cream masks to rehabilitate my dry, stressed hair. At least once a week I'll slather this rich cream all over my head and let it sink in for a half hour. (John Frieda has a new overnight hair mask that seems promising, but sadly it's only available at Boots).


• Less blow drying, more air drying. While I can't fathom giving up my flatiron, my hair can definitely benefit from one less heat-styling appliance.


• Silk pillowcases minimize breakage.


• John Frieda Weather Works Weather-Proofing Sealant Creme to protect hair from heat damage, seal split end and add shine. This stuff also lets me ride my cruiser (the wind!) along the ocean (the moisture!) without having a frazzled rat's nest at the end!

P.S. I'll be posting every so often with updates.
Maybe a monthly blog entry will prompt me to
stick to my plan and baby my hair!
-M

Another Good Purchase

Ever on the quest to NOT spend $27 on foundation, I decided to give L'Oreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation a shot. I read the ingredient lists of several drugstore options, and decided on L'Oreal Bare Naturale because it had the shortest list that included all the ingredients in Bare Escentuals BareMinerals foundation, in addition to kaolin, a natural clay that absorbs oil.

While the coverage with the included brush isn't as good as the kabuki brush that I use with my Bare Escentuals foundation, I figure that's not an important obstacle. L'Oreal's formula allows for buildable coverage, and I was pretty happy with the finish. The package is also more convenient, since you can just throw it in your bag and not have to dig around for separate pieces.

I got L'Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Foundation for $10.49 at Target, and I can definitely get into reducing my makeup expenditure by more than fifty percent. I plan on trying out L'Oreal Mineral Blush once I run out of my Cover Girl staple.

Neutrogena Fight & Fade

Sadly, yet another miracle in a bottle (or in this case, a tube) fails to live up to its promises.

Neutrogena's Fight & Fade Gel claims to both fight breakouts and fade the red spots left behind with a combination of salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids. It neither fought nor faded a thing, just lost me eight dollars. After a week of day and night applications, I had a new zit, my other blemishes hadn't healed any faster than they would have if I had just ignored them, and there was no noticeable difference in the red remnants of pimples past. The gel also does not work well under makeup; it peels up and makes blemishes more apparent.

A big thumbs down all around.

Captain Ahab, I feel for you

The perfect mascara is, alas, my white whale. I'm continually on the quest for longer, thicker, inky black eyelashes. I usually end up falling short, stubby, and clumpy. I've tried dozens of mascaras, most of which are thrown into my black hole of a makeup drawer within a few days. I had a brief infatuation with Chanel Inimitable mascara, but I really couldn't justify to myself that $28 was a reasonable price for a tube of mascara. Ever since, I've been searching for a cheaper replica of that mascara, and the closest I've gotten so far is L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic mascara. This is the only mascara I've bought more than once. The stiff-bristled wand is way better than the weaker ones from Maybelline, Cover Girl, and Rimmel. The formula itself is pretty smooth too, and allows for some layer building, but it is just, well, not good enough!

Revlon recently introduced Lash Fantasy Total Definition mascara, and I bit the bullet and spent the $8.99 on yet another mascara. I've tried the two-in-one formulas before, and found nothing to be desired about the primer or the mascara itself. But Revlon has a pretty sturdy stiff-bristled brush in both formulas. I applied three coats of the primer and two of the mascara, allowing lashes to dry in between coats, repeated the process again and am pretty pleased with the almost false-eyelash result. After a few more experiments, I may be a few steps closer to finding the perfect mascara!

Top Ten Beauty Staples

 1. Water

I know, I know, water is both a boring and cliché item to begin a beauty article with, but its importance is also  undeniable. Getting enough water, at least five glasses a day for moderately sedentary people, is essential for keeping your body's cells plump and healthy, your hair shiny, your energy up and all your systems running smoothly. I drink a glass of water first thing after waking up, since several hours of beauty sleep means I'm dehydrated.

2. Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF15 Foundation in Light

I was converted from my liquid MAC foundation the moment bareMinerals touched my skin. Amazingly gentle with buildable coverage, a luminous, natural finish, and best of all, it doesn't cause breakouts. These days, the shorter an ingredient list is, the better, and this makeup only has five, the first two of which are sun blocking agents. Unbeatable. 

3. Bare Escentuals All-Over Face Color in Warmth

I don't care what anyone says, most people look better with some color. But, since we all know suntans are deadly and devastating to the skin, I fake it with bronzer. A tiny bit goes a long way, so I can adjust my makeup to my [self-tan] shade du jour. A few sweeps over the cheekbones and forehead brighten my face.

4. Ayurvedic Oil

I use this body oil to protect, nourish, calm and add shine to my poor over-processed hair. It mimics the oils that are stripped out by all my blow-drying, bleaching, dyeing and flatironing. Phew, just typing all that out burns my fingertips!

5. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

After years of drugstore eyelash curlers, I finally splurged and tried the Shu Uemura, and haven't looked back. It's design better fits the shape of my eyelid, and for some reason the curl just lasts longer.

6. Cover Girl Blush in Classic Pink

The color's name says it all. Classic Pink creates sweet, rosy cheeks and brightens my eye area. Plus, so cheap!

7. Self-Tanning Body Lotion

So many drugstore brands make these lotions, and the only difference I've noticed is the scent. I like to keep some color going year round to even out imperfections.

8. Nars Lipstick in Roman Holiday

An awesome pastel pink that cheers up my face.

9. Sally Hansen Lip Inflation

Tingly, ultra shiny lip lacquer. Not good in windy conditions though.

10. Coppertone Waterbabies Sunblock Stick

I keep this on me at all times to protects my tattoos from fading in the sun. The stick means I can throw it in my purse without spillage, and keeps my hands grease-free.