Wednesday, December 31, 2008

makin' me over (and over, and over)

in rolls the new year. and with it, our resolve to make ourselves over.

we want new, better bodies. we want a fresh hairstyle. we want to reinvent our signature style and develop a wardrobe that makes our physique look like a supermodel and accessories that give the illusion of luxury.

or is that just me?

for the past couple of years, i have become increasingly aware that i need to constantly reinvent my personal style. not becoming an entirely new person, mind you, but making sure that i'm in fashion and age-appropriate while still feeling like "me".

i love glitter and bright colors...but those trends have an expiration date. even on legendary pop stars, they can look ridiculous after a certain point. i don't want to be an old lady donning baby barrettes and defending myself with "you're only as old as you feel". trying to look a lot younger than you are actually ages you, and i don't want to be a "don't". there are lots of classy people of all age groups that prove you don't have to dress frumpy just because you aren't in your twenties.

my goal is to find a style icon. i'm going to pick a celebrity (or two) that has a fashion sense that i admire and i'm going to incorporate it into my closet.

for myself, i think simple is better. i'd rather have a very basic, well-fitting wardrobe and keep in season with trendy accessories. i gravitate towards neutrals (black, gray and tan). you can add almost any accessory to that. the style i would like to develop will be modern and edgy, with a feminine twist. i like a little bit of rock and roll with my minimalism.

i've been trying to make this transition a reality for awhile...what stops me is the work involved. i'd have to trim down my closet (ew!) and purchase some new things (yay!). i'd have to bid a permanent goodbye to some things i've never worn that don't suit me anymore. i guess if they'd have suited me to begin with i would have worn them. being realistically harsh with what to toss and what to keep vexes me, because i tell myself i'll wear it "eventually".

honestly, i probably need to be that harsh in other areas besides my closet. i need to par down LOTS of things.

so my quest is on. i'll let you know as soon as i find a style match. perhaps you are doing some makeovers on your own? let me know!

Monday, December 15, 2008

deck the halls with bottles of perfume

i've been wondering if i should start purchasing only miniature perfumes from now on. i never go through a whole bottle, and it's a more economical way to build my collection!

in the spirit of tiny, wonderful christmas treasures, here are some miniature perfume sets. great gifts for that well-scented friend, or for yourself!

Escada.....


....Calvin Klein.....


...Victoria's Secret.....


....Kenzo....


....Gaultier......



...Bulgari Omnia....


...Clean.....


....Salvador Ferragamo Incanto....


...Ralph Lauren.....


...Dior....


for a mere $1600, your place in heaven can be assured by purchasing the ultimate Bond 9 gift set!!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

product crush....Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask


i wouldn't have tried this product if i hadn't seen the results on someone else.

honestly? ALL lines from ALL products claim to change your life. i need to be convinced.

i work with a woman in her fifties, and i noticed during one of our conversations that her skin was glowing. she looked well-rested and younger than usual, so i complimented her. that's when she told me she'd been using Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. ironically, she wouldn't have tried it either, except she had complimented someone else's skin.

the sephora.com site states that this product is "A frothy mask that releases oxygen into the skin, so your complexion is instantly brighter, fresher, and younger-looking". it feels strange....it foams up (without your help!)on wet skin and you leave it for about five minutes.

the result makes your skin brighter. all the holiday and work stress that shows up on your face? no evidence. it's based on Bliss's best selling facial treatment. most of us don't have the time or money to make the trip to have this done by a professional. it's nice to know that your bathroom works just as well.

i don't totally understand the science behind it, but i can tell you that it's a visible difference, and that's enough to sell it to me.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

have a glossy christmas

the holidays are the very best time to stock up. yes, there are sales and limited-edition products. but the very best part (at least to me) are the gift sets!

i love sets for three reasons. one, it gives you a variety of products that you can created several looks from. two, i'm obsessed with tiny products. three, if you are going the economic route, you can bust the set apart and use them as gifts for several people or as stocking stuffers.

i'll try to do a few blogs based on the sets that are calling my name this christmas, but i'll start with a buffet of my favorite type of set-lip gloss!!


Mirror Mirror gloss from Two-Faced. tastes and smells great, not sticky, and super shiny!


Kat Von D's glosses come in great colors, but most appealing is "stormy", which looks black but goes on a dark silver. it would be gorgeous over a plum lipstick!


Lorac's mini Mocktail set is very glittery and smells just like the drinks each gloss is named after. plus, each tiny gloss has a mirror on the side so you can admire your lips!


NARS, gorgeous and pigmented as always.


ten glosses for less than 25.00? sign me up!!




i love smashbox. i especially like their nude neutral glosses!



stila's mini glosses have their trademark brush so you can glaze to your heart's content.

all of these gorgeous, portable gloss sets are available at sephora.com. buy them for yourself or for somebody else who loves a lacquered lip!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

product test drive.....L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment


if you've ever box-colored your hair, you know the best part is the conditioner.

it's the icing on the cake. your hair becomes silky and soft. i always thought, why don't they bottle this and sell it? i had heard that people would contact the hair color manufacturers simply looking for tubes of the conditioner.

guess what? someone does sell it in big bottles!

at Sally Beauty, you can buy a tube of L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment. you can have that silky feeling every single time you condition, and not just after you color! it will make your hair super-touchable even if you don't color your hair...it's just so moisturizing! a co-worker of mine, who recently graduated from a Paul Mitchell Hair Academy, swears by this conditioner (don't tell Paul...he might get mad).

one downfall-it smells average. not unpleasant, but not yummy. still, it's entirely worth it for the after-effects. it feels like you are pampering yourself just by washing your hair, and you'll notice how different your hair feels as soon as you put it on.

as L'Oreal would tell us...you're worth it. and this conditioner is worth it!

Friday, November 14, 2008

product lust......Sephora Scent Samplers



Sephora's Scent Sampler Trendsetters for Her is a dream gift for me. you get a buffet of fragrances to try, and then you can choose which of those you would like a full bottle of.

the gift includes samples sizes of Burberry Brit Sheer, Dior Addict Shine, Emporio Armani Diamonds Intense, Ferragamo Incanto Heaven, Jean Paul Gaultier Ma Dame, Lolita Lempicka Fleur De Corail, Nina Ricci Nina, Prada Infusion D'Iris, and Pucci Vivara. i like 7 of the 9, and that's not a bad ratio!

they have other sampling gifts as well, like the Best Sellers and the New Classics, all coming with sample vials of fragrances so that you can choose a full bottle with the included certificate. Sephora knows a fragrance is a personal choice, so these gifts are perfect for the finicky glamouristas in your life!

they are $50-$70, and available at Sephora and Sephora.com.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

product crush...smashbox high definition healthy fx foundation


lately, i've strayed a bit from my loose powder foundation.

it's been quite awhile since i've worn a liquid foundation. my skin slicks up pretty quickly, and powder foundation seems to sop up the shine very well. however, with the change of seasons from hot weather to cold, i can veer from my powdery beaten path.

enter Smashbox's High Definition Healthy FX Foundation. when applied with a foundation brush, it provides nice coverage that leaves my skin still looking like skin. nothing cakey, nothing mask-like. it lasts all day and with it's ingredients that promote healthy skin, it's nice to know that i'm actually doing something good for my face.

per the sephora.com website, this foundation "Creates flawless skin from within - now you can have flawless skin from the inside out. Smashbox introduces its revolutionary formula packed with ingredients that work overtime to provide cellular nutrition for the skin. UVA/UVB SPF 15 offers sun protection, vitamin C to fight free radicals, and new cell-energizing Ribose renews the appearance of skin. A unique, patented bio-delivery system gives you time-release moisturization and firming benefits that last all day. Skin is refreshed and revitalized for a flawless future".

even though it's not advertised as an illuminating foundation, i feel like i am lit from within when i where this. i struggle with the $38.00 price tag, but foundation is one of those things that you can justify investing in. what do you think?

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

mmm the smell of men.......


my favorite smell in the entire world is the smell of freshly washed guy. i love that wonderful, crisp, soapy smell wrapped in freshly laundered clothes. i love walking into a recently exited bathroom that is still foggy with the remnants of a masculine shower.

still, there are bottled smells that do the trick, too. many men's fragrances are too sweet, too immature, too lacking in character to draw me in. i like my guys to smell like men, and that's a hit-or-miss process. some fragrances try so hard to be masculine that they end up reeking like rarely washed red flannel frolicking in an overgrown shrubbery, enshrouded in unkempt facial hair and deer scent.

for better or worse, i can't get past Cool Water for Men. Yes, it's been worn by nearly every guy on the planet, often in appalling excess. in the right amounts, it pelts me with pleasant memories of high school and breathless kisses and laughter. i know you can buy it in any drugstore. i still love it. the notes are: Lavender, Rosemary, Mint, Coriander, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Geranium, Sandalwood, Moss, Ambergris, and Musk.

Burberry for Men is a classic that i adore. it's probably still my favorite fragrance for men, because it's woody and comfortable and irresistibly masculine. it works in a suit and it works in jeans. it's what a knight in shining armor would wear while he rides up on his white horse.the ntoes are: Lavender, Bergamot, Thyme, Mint, Moss, Cedar, Amber, and Tonka Bean.

can i say that i like the Abercrombie colognes without sounding like a pedophile? i know they are worn by the younger crowd. but i swear, when i walk by that store and i see those huge black and white pictures and i smell that vapor that trickles out of it's doors, my heart skips a beat.

Burberry London for Men begs to be worn on crisp fall days. it's like being at a bonfire...with a mix of crackling wood a sweetness hanging in the air. the notes are: Bergamot, Lavender, Cinnamon Leaves, Black Pepper, Mimosa, Leather, Port Wine, Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss, Tobacco, and Opopanax.

you know that any guy of mine will be well-stocked with fragrance if i have anything to do with it....guess i better give Prince Charming's fragrance wardrobe a little kick start!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

the glamourista should be put in time out

i keep telling myself that it could happen to the best of us. since july, i have been a very, very bad glamourista. i've committed the most heinous of beauty crimes-i've been lazy.

it's not a good excuse, but a new relationship has put my head into the clouds and put a kink in my beauty routine. i lacked the motivation to kick start it again. my grooming rituals have been replaced with talking to and texting him, or catching up on sleep i've missed because i've been talking to or texting him. even worse, i've reverted (on some days) to actually look slovenly, and that's not acceptable at all!!

this isn't how i thought i'd behave when i had finally ensnared a worthy suitor. i thought for sure that it would kick me into overdrive, and i'd be a constantly breathtaking creation that was always in process of impressing her man. i'd promised myself that i'd maintain, or even over-maintain.

i haven't had my hair done since july. my roots creep down my head as a disappointing reminder that i wasn't naturally born with those blonde streaks. my fingers and toes that were once weekly habits now glare at me, chipped and in need of some VERY potent lotion. i can't believe i'm admitting this, but i've been going to bed with my makeup on. and my legs aren't as frequently shaved as they ought to be.

i don't like to see me like this. i don't want HIM to see me like this, either (he's long distance, so i try to fool him when i do see him).

this fresh relationship is great for my heart, but terrible for my outward appearance and my blogging. my interest in beauty products hasn't waned (nor has my nasty habit of collecting them)...it's the investment of time and use that seems to struggle.

i think enough is enough.

i didn't get this way overnight, so i can't fix it overnight. i'm taking baby steps to return to the glamourista you knew and loved three months ago...and i'm starting with box coloring (gasp!!) my hair tonight. i'll let you know how that goes.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

product lust......floral fragrances!

i wish i could explain it, but it's a phenomenon that has taken me by complete surprise. out of all the fragrances that i love, very few are florals. i've never much been a floral girl. i was always a spicy/musky/herby/sweet skin scent and sometimes citrus gal.

imagine my surprise that the fragrances that i've been lusting and crushing after lately are ALL floral. i'm having an out-of-body experience!



loving Stella was a surprise. there's something so unapologetically feminine about it. i wouldn't call it proper, because there's a hidden amber note in there that promises mischief in foggy whispers. Stella is my go-to flirty/clubbing/date scent. it makes me feel girly, yet mysterious. the notes are: rose, peony flower, mandarin, rose absolute, and amber. i love this fragrance so much that i also nabbed some Stella Rose Absolute, which is a more potent rose scent.



Versace is the designer's signature scent, and it's powerful. not because it's strong, but that it's overwhelmingly pleasant. this is how i wish Kenzo Parfum D'Ete smelled on me, but it turns too green on me. What i love about this fragrance on me is that is doesn't seem to change, no matter how long i wear it. i love it when i first put it on, and i'm loving it for the same reasons eight hours later. this fragrance is, literally, happy. wearing it makes me smile. it's hard to pick out a single floral, but they all work together so well. the notes are: Living Dew Drops, Icy Black Currant, Purple Wisteria, White Lilac, Lotus Flower, Living Orchid, Angel White Jasmine, White Lights Azalea, Snowbird Azalea, Musks, Cedar, Cashmirwood, Amberwoods.



then there's Prada Infusion D'Iris. i didn't like the other Prada's. This one is breathtaking in a good way. It's soft and ladylike, and so proper i'd almost feel blasphemous wearing it. it's not stuffy, but it's very composed. This is a fantastic wedding fragrance, or any other occasion where you want to smell universally appropriate. it doesn't make you common. if anything, you'd get applauded for having amazing taste. sephora.com says it contains Iris Padilla and Sicilian Mandarin. even the bottle is elegant!

Monday, October 20, 2008

untanned


i finally had to break down and do it, people. i didn't want to. i've fought it for a long time, but i guess i have to cave in and do what i know is best.

i'm going to quit going to the tanning bed.

no, i didn't have a cancer scare. i didn't wake up with a sun spot the size of a gnome on my forehead. i didn't even get a really bad burn that made me yelp when i walked.

it's economical, mostly. even though i work in a skincare industry part-time and i see regretful clients who are trying to undo their own skin damage all the time, i wasn't swayed. i like the way i look tanned. my skin behaves better tanned. i feel like i look thinner when i'm tanned. and i despise self tanner.

i've been a tanner since high school. not always faithfully, but it's been a long time since i've actually let myself pale out. already i feel pasty and my skin has staged a revolt against me. i fight off the urge to flop myself on that glass and let the lights work their magic.

i know that i'm taking a big step in the anti-aging process. i know it'll be better for me in the long run. however, i'm gonna be more reluctant to show my legs and arms every summer. i'm going to miss that sun-kissed glow that makes me look healthy and fools everyone into thinking i actually get outdoors sometimes.

yes, tanning bed, you and i are having a messy split. we can't get together for one last hurrah. it's just too difficult. i'm going to have to go cold turkey.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

product crush.....Buxom Babes Diamond Lips


i have the biggest crush on Buxom Lips. They are the perfect gloss for every mood. if i had a boatload of money, i'd have every single one. i'm working on it.

in the meantime, they keep coming out with more to choose from.

Buxom Babes Diamond Lips are versatile and portable, and perfect for the holidays because they are sparkly! like the other Buxoms, they make your lips look full while tasting and smelling good.

they come in four festive colors: April (pink kiss), Starr (raspberry ice), Celeste (soft peach), and Clair (moonlit mauve). these are beautiful alone or over lipstick or stain!

as far as i know, these lil beauties are not available individually or in a larger size, so get 'em while you can!

product lust.....Bare Escentuals Ruby Collection


i love kits. the ones that really impress me give you a variety of products you'll actually use.

a lot of lines are guilty of having kits that have just a couple of gotta-have-it products, and a few others that i'm not in love with. it's even more vexing when the products come only in the kit and aren't available "a la carte".

Bare Escentuals is notorious for this with both brushes and eyeshadow colors.

However, Bare Escentuals Ruby Collection is at the top of my lust list. i wanted it just by reading about it on sephora.com, but i've also seen it in person. it is gorgeous!!!

the website says, "This Sephora-exclusive collection includes bareMinerals Ruby Radiance All-Over Face Color (pink rose) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Golden Ruby Eye Color (peach gold) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Vintage Ruby Eye Color (rose fawn) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Wild Ruby Liner Shadow (plum chocolate) infused with ruby, Double-Ended Classic Black Mascara & Ruby Beautifully Luminous Lashes, Ruby Buxom Big & Healthy Full Color Lip Polish (jeweled mauve), a Soft Sweep Cheek Brush with custom handle, a Double-Ended Tapered Shadow & Eyeliner Brush with custom handle, and a stylish faux-crocodile Ruby Clutch."

i really do like the shadows in this line. they have great pigmentation, and i love the sparkle. my favorite parts of this kit are the double-ended mascara (particularly the ruby lashes end-it's red glitter for your lashes!!) and the brush, which has tiny bristles that are perfect for precision work. you can't go wrong with Buxom Lips, and the clutch is cute.

for $54.00, this is a gift worth asking santa for!!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

product crush...benefit erase paste


not all of us are blessed to wake up looking well-rested. it takes vitamins and a good concealer!

i didn't seek out Erase Paste because i was unhappy with my other concealer. my old one was doing it's job...basically even out the dark circles. little did i know that there was a concealer out there that would not only conceal, but brighten as well!

i admit, in the tiny jar, it looks scary. it's undeniably pink. furthermore, it's obscenely thick. the upside to that is that you only need a tiny bit at a time, and a jar will last you until you are eighty.

you shouldn't use this on your blemishes, because it brightens. keep your other concealer around for that! you want to conceal your zits so that they are barely noticeable, not put a product on them that makes the light reflect nicely off of them.

erase paste is the ultimate smoke-and-mirrors for your eyes...my face actually looks lifted when my dark circles disappear.

this is definitely a must-have!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

product crush.....the haunted house by philosophy



Philosophy has a set of Shampoo/Shower Gel/Bubble Bath that is sure to put you in the mood for fall!!

The Haunted House contains three fabulous scents-Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, and Black Licorice. it's a perfect gift for halloween parties or pick-me-up for yourself for the sweet price of $30.00.

Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice Muffin are also available in individual larger sizes for $16.00.

you'll smell good enough to nibble on!

Monday, September 15, 2008

product crush.....ddf wrinkle resist plus pore minimizer


if you find a product that can out-multitask your current multi-tasker, go with it!

DDF Wrinkle Resist plus Pore Minimizer fights wrinkles, diminishes the look of pores, exfoliates, and moisturizes.

if you read up on skincare at all, you know that the same skin process that fights blemishes is the same process that fights wrinkles. exfoliating the dead skin and promoting cell turnover produces younger, clearer skin. and since every skin type needs to moisturize, this product knocks out a bunch of steps that you'd already want to be doing, so this busy girl is loving it!

it has a nice, silky texture, and it's light. that's important for us oily girls who don't want to oversaturate in moisture. it also has a really pleasant smell.

i've been cleansing/toning, then applying this product and i really like how it performs. it's treatment and moisturizer in one step! it's $85.00 a pop, but think of the price of multiple products you'd normally use. plus, you don't need a lot, and a little goes a long way.

this product definitely gets an A!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

product crush......BBW Shea Cashmere



Bath and Body Works has a product line that will make you want to stay indoors.

Shea Cashmere comes in body cream, bubble bath, body lotion, shower cream, foot cream and hand cream. it is sinfully moisturizing (thanks to the African she butter), and the cozy vanilla smell will make you wanna cuddle up by the fire. it smells a bit like buttercream frosting, then deepens to a come-hither skin scent. products range from $15.00 to $18.00.

it's like wrapping yourself in a big cashmere blanket!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

am i too old?


is there an age limit on mary janes?

better let me know, because i am lusting over these....the 4.5 inch heel makes them grown up, right? right????

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

high maintenance?? me????


although most people who know me would classify me as a girly-girl, i'm nowhere near the level i would be if time and funds allowed.

i use a LOT of products if i have time in my day to pamper myself. i don't always have time to do every single step, but here is the routine for my face if i'm pulling out all the stops...

A.M.
-wash with Philosophy's On a Clear Day
-exfoliate with Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion
-moisturize face with Philosophy's Hope in a Jar
-moisturize eyes with Lancome High Resolution Eye Collaser-5x
-apply Bliss Spiff Upper Lip
-apply blemish spot treatment (like Murad Acne Spot Treatment)
-tweeze brows with LaCross tweezers
-apply Smashbox Anti-shine to t-zone
-apply Urban Decay Primer Potion to eyelids
-apply Cargo One Base concealer under eyes, around nose and corners of the mouth, and on any blemishes
-apply Smashbox Photo-Op Under Eye Brightener
-apply Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Foundation
-apply lightest eyeshadow shade with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Eyeshadow Brush
-apply crease eyeshadow shade with Sephora Smudge Brush #14
-apply any additional colors with Sephora Smudge Brush #14, q-tip, or lip brush
-blend eye look together with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Large Powder Brush
-line eyes with shadow or cream liner using Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Liner Brush, or using a pencil
-apply Lancome Cils Booster XL on lashes
-apply Diorshow Blackout mascara on lashes
-apply bronzer with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Large Powder Brush
-apply blush with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Blush Brush
-apply Bourjois Lip Stain
-apply lip gloss

that's exhausting just to read!! and that's not counting my hair routine, or doing my nails. but, in my defense, i can crank this routine out pretty quickly. i can be out the door in an hour with this face. well....maybe an hour and a half......

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

product test drive......Ralph Lauren's Notorious


i contacted a rep at L'Oreal regarding the release of Ralph Lauren's new fragrance, Notorious. though the initial try-out offer was over, she used to be from Cincinnati, and in the spirit of good neighbors, i received a 1.7 bottle in the mail today! i thought i would simply be getting a sample, not an entire bottle, but it made my day.

Notorious is a cuddling sort of smell. it's not overpowering and doesn't flirt with you from across the room...it simply brushes up against you and makes you want to inhale. it's sweet but not sticky, warm but not suffocating. i think it's misnamed, because it's title implies that it has an element of danger. this fragrance isn't dangerous, and i wouldn't even classify it as sultry or seductive. it is sexy in a comfortable way.

the notes swear that there is a chocolate element in it, as so many gourmand-y fragrances profess, but i don't smell it. i like the vagueness of the patchouli because it matures the other sugary notes.

it's breatheable, pleasant, and would be great for a first date or a romantic evening at home. i'll have to try this one out on Prince Charming!

the notes are: chocolate cosmos ("a decadent, chocolate-scented burgundy flower exclusive to Ralph Lauren Fragrances"; black currant, pink peppercorn, bergamot, white frost peonies, carnation, patchouli musk, vanilla and iris.

product crush.....mirror mirror gloss by two faced


i think a lot of people overlook Two-Faced, and i think it's the marketing. it definitely appeals to a younger crowd, because their packaging is, in a word, juvenile. however, if you can get past it, they really do have some great products.

i'm really excited about their Mirror Mirror Gloss. they have a bunch of fabulous, sheer color options that aren't sticky, and they are also scented with a fun burst of fragrance!

per sephora.com, "The deliciously-flavored colors are scented: Envy Me with currant, I Love Myself with grapefruit, I Know You Want Me with Apple, Damn I'm Hot! with Cherry, I'm Perfect with Banana, and Don't Hate Me with Strawberry".

i've been wearing "I'm Perfect" (sheer beige) over Naked by Urban Decay, and i've also tried "Damn, I'm Hot" (sheer red) and "Envy Me" (sheer currant). they are all long-lasting and very shiny, and the scents are a really nice touch!

i almost prefer "I'm Perfect" to the "Girls on Film" Glamour Gloss, simply for the shine. "Envy Me" helps create a look similar to Smashbox's Wicked/Lovely dark lips when paired with Urban's Rockstar liner (made for eyes, but fun for eggplant lips, too!) and their Apocalypse (blackberry/sheer cream) lipstick. then again, i'm prone to a good cocktail.

try these lipglosses-they'll put a little perk in your pout!

Friday, August 22, 2008

product cocktail.....urban decay liner and two faced gloss!



i'd much rather do up my eyes than my lips.

ask my favorite stylist friend, Beauty Queen, and she won't miss a beat while telling you that my lip line is not for the faint of heart. it's hard to get right. most days i don't even fight that battle. in addition, my lips don't take color well. nearly everything turns to sheer boring pink on me. it's strange....things that would normally would be very dark on one person just mellow out on me, almost like i just put on a transparent gloss.

it's not very often that i get fanatical about a lip look. lip products, yes. i can talk up gloss, stains and plumpers all day. truth be told, though, i don't have high hopes for a big difference. i've learned to be content with something that looks nice, and to expect a certain result.

yesterday, quite by accident, i combined two products that created a lip look that i could not keep my eyes off of.

Urban Decay's new 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencils are a loooong time coming. their eyeliners are already above the curve in my mind-creamy, highly pigmented, and long-lasting. these lip liners are the same.

i covered my entire lips with Naked, which is a neutral pink. then, i topped it all off with Two-Faced Glamour Gloss in Girls on Film, a pink-nude beige shimmer.

when i stepped back and looked in the mirror, i didn't immediately gasp that my look was all about lips. what i was impressed with was that i had found a lip look that made my face look polished....dare i say it? the perfect nude for me! it's a hard task to find one's perfect naked lip look.

i need to buy these two products in bulk.....i can't see myself living without them!!

hopefully i'll be able to post pics of this new look soon.....

Thursday, August 21, 2008

scented for life!!

my perfume collection is large, but not nearly as vast as some aficionados out there. while you would think their reviews and musings would encourage me that i'm not as obsessed as they are, more often than not it nudges me that i've got a lot of catching up to do.

one of my favorite perfume blogs, nowsmellthis, recently pondered about how long their perfume collection would last. i haven't done the math on mine, but this article sure has me feeling like i'm living in excess (just a bit....).

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

product lust...LORAC's fall releases!


one of the best parts of fall is the rich color that all the makeup lines come out with. LORAC has got some great products you might want to check out!

first, look at the Multi-Platinum Palette above. with colors like Rockstar, Serenity, Heavy Metal, Sapphire Storm, Dreamy, and Techno, and blush in Couture, this could be your go-to palette for evening!

my fave color releases this season from LORAC are After Party (dark black violet) Green Room (a deep emerald sheen) and Celebutante (shimmering teal blue).




in addition to making your eyes pop with color and shimmer, LORAC now has a concelear/highlighter duo called Double Feature.

one end holds (you guessed it!) a concealer, while the other end is a highlighting formula, perfect for adding some light around the eye area! the product has a rollerball which they suggest that you use to blend everything. the concealer looks adequate, but i get really excited about the highlighter. the product comes in three shades.

Monday, August 18, 2008

product crush.......Gendarme Sky


my quest for new and interesting perfume never ends.

i'm finding that having a significant other might tinker with my perfume selection. there are some things that he's not crazy about, though he hasn't nixed anything yet that's broken my heart. then again, i haven't let him smell those, because i'm scared!

i was in Sephora the other day and i smelled something that was very pleasant. it was a clean smell...but not like a laundry or soap smell. i'm so over those! it was soft and fresh, and it was Gendarme Sky. it's advertised online as a feminine fragrance, but it was camping out in the men's fragrance section when i found it. i have no problem wearing a masculine fragrance....i wear Boss Pure and L'eauParKenzo pour Homme at work all the time. i guess i just need to snag myself a sample and see if it's boyfriend approved.

the notes are: sparkling bergamot, sweet lime, green lemon cardamom and cognac; mid-notes of Magnolia flower and Asian pepper oil and a dry down of warm woods and luxurious Spanish moss.

product test drive.....Benefit Posietint


i made friends with Posietint.

although i'm probably the last gal on the planet to review this stuff, i'll throw my two cents in. my first go-ronund with this stuff didn't go very well. i can't tell you that it's foolproof, either. using it takes a little bit of practice, but it has great results!

Posietint is a lip and cheek stain by Benefit. They already have another great cheek stain out (Benetint, if you aren't familiar). this formula is much pinker and creates a very pretty flush on the cheeks. much like Tarte's stains, you look like you glow from within.

it looks like a big bottle of pink nail polish. the applicator actually looks like a nail polish brush. the trick is to work quickly and blend like mad. if you do it right, it's subtle and it becomes part of your skin. you don't look "made up", you just look healthy, and in my mind, that's the entire purpose of blush!

if you haven't checked it out already, wander over to the Benefit counter or check it out at Sephora!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

product lust.....bare escentuals buxom lips full color


i love when a company has the brains to improve upon something that's already good.

take, for instance, Bare Escentuals. i loved Buxom Lips before, with it's shimmery sheer color and it's minty tingle. i loved to wear it over stains and lip pencils. but now, there is Buxom Lips Full Color. it's fuller color coverage in a formula that you already love....yay!!

it promises "intense sheen and color opacity with no sticky or tacky feeling". i promise that i'll definitely end up buying some.

Friday, July 25, 2008

product test drive at the mall.....Lancome Magnifique and Estee Lauder Sensuous

i went for a little scented indulgence at my local Dillard's. though my main priority was to pay my bill, i also wanted to smell two new scents that i'd been keeping my eye on: Lancome's Magnifique and Estee Lauder's Sensuous. i predicted that i would like Sensuous the most.


Magnifique was a wonderful surprise to my nose. though i didn't love it immediately, i was pleasantly intrigued. it began to unfold on my skin as this warm, woody rose scent. and i don't attach this word to many fragrances, but i can use it here: it's sophisticated. not sophisticated like the fragrance ages you, but that it's so classy and well done. the longer i wear it, the more impressed i am. this is a perfect special occasion scent, perfect for evening. i am glad that it's missing that aldehyde note that so many fragrances out there have-i feel like it can sometimes cloud the fragrance, but this is not powdery. the notes are: nagarmota essential oil, saffron essence, cumin, Bulgarian rose essence, Mai de Grasse rose absolute, jasmine, Australian sandalwood essence and a vetiver note. this is a little black dress scent, and i can't wait to have it! this is what i wish Chanel 5 smelled like, but the aldehydes always turn me off. if you try it, do yourself a favor and put it on your skin. give it a few minutes to warm up, and you'll be glad you did.

Estee Lauder Sensuous didn't impress me as much. it's notes are: ghost lily accord, magnolia, jasmine petals, molten woods, amber, sandalwood, black pepper, juicy mandarin pulp and honey. though it smells like Bronze Goddess's redneck cousin, though by looking at the notes, they only share magnolia and sandalwood. it's sweet, almost overdone, and i keep waiting for the wood notes to come out, but the magnolia keeps stifling it. it doesn't seamlessly blend for me. it's as though the various notes are fighting each other for stage time.

go give these two newbies a whiff and see if you have found a new fragrance for yourself....

product crush...Bare Escentuals eyeshadows and brushes



my makeup personality refuses to be placed into any certain stereotype. some days, i'm doing the "sheer, fresh and pretty" thing, some days i'm feeling a little rock 'n roll, some days i'm even a little costumey. i adore dark eyes and a pale mouth, and i'm a sucker for glitter.


i used to think that Bare Escentuals didn't really fit my makeup personality. i thought that they were geared towards a sheer, more natural look.

i've been looking at it recently, and i think we might become friends. i'm not in love with the entire brand, but their eyeshadows and brushes are intriguing.

though they don't have the range of bolder colors that Urban Decay does, they do have more than just neutrals. they have some lovely deep shades and lots of shimmer. plus, all of their shadows are wet/dry. they also have some excellent kits that put shades together for you, and the brushes that come in the kits are amazing.


the individual shadows are $13.00, but it's the eyeshadow kits that are going to be painful ($32.00). tell yourself that the brush is worth it and the colors are fabulous. they often include brushes and eyeshadows in the kits that are not sold individually.


i'm excited about the release of their "rocker eye" kit, which is going to create that shimmery, smokey eye look that i crave!

application with this entire line is pretty messy. after all, it's loose powder. i generally have to do my face before getting dressed if i'm wearing BE.

do you love Bare Escentuals? any faves?