As I mentioned earlier this week, I made a trip to Sephora with my new partner in shopping crimes, Sophia. The evening's big purchases included the philosophy gift set (which contained a bottle of their 'purity' face wash and a tub of 'hope in a jar'), more Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (which I now can't live without), and a bottle of my former signature scent, 'Very Irresistible' by Givenchy.
I mention the perfume because - I just had a revelation.
Why am I spending $50 on a bottle of perfume I adore, and then only wearing it at work, where I don't really have time to sniff my arm and hair and wrists all day to enjoy it? Why is it Wrong to put perfume on for yourself?
It's not. So there.
So, after a riveting new episode of "Top Model," I washed my face and applied my new cream*. Then - I did it. I spritzed a bit of my old favorite on my fingers and ran them through my hair. For good measure, I put on my short, satin, black kimono.
YES! You, too, can be sexy for yourself (and your boyfriend, if he's looking up from the Mets game for longer than 10 seconds!) on a random Wednesday night. Do it, man. All of a sudden, instead of feeling like a sack of potatoes, I feel sleek and sexy and I love the way I smell. What can be better than that?
*Loving your new facial cleansing/moisturizing routine. So far, although I've only been a faithful customer for 24 hours, I am LOVING this philosophy product line. The cleanser is like ... wow. Wait. Let me compose myself. I'm all excited over here.
The cleanser, like the cream, has this amazing, natural herbs and lavender scent. It's not perfume, it's just the way the product smells naturally. It's a creamy liquid, more watery than creamy and man - it actually feels like it's spreading over your pores and totally wiping them clean. It's low-lather, which is nice because that means there's little to no detergents in it (hence why it's so gentle). And it really gets you prepared for your next step - the hope in a jar.
Ladies. Damn. Give me a few more days, but I'm pretty sure I'll be forcing you all to buy it. It's got a form of lactic acid in it, so it exfoliates and gives you a healthy glow. It's mildly tingly, but they DO make a sensitive skin version, FYI. But my favorite part?
It melts away into your skin. Once you have it on, it soaks in, and there's no slightly tacky, sticky residue on your skin. It's on, it does it's job, then it just ... goes away.
I'll keep ya posted ...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Excellent Skin Care: Should It Be A philosophy?
A wonderful, yet regular, thing has happened!
It's time for a new moisturizer!
As most product whores will tell you, the biggest high we get (aside from the initial purchase of a new or favorite product), is getting it home and actually using it for the first time! Sometimes, especially if it's a lip gloss, I don't even wait 'til I get home. Funk 'dat.
But what could be better than opening up your brand-new jar of moisturizer for the first time and dipping into the smooth, unblemished surface? Not much, I say.
**Side Note**
Never stick your fingers into your moisturizer container. Even if you literally JUST washed your hands, you could potentially introduce bacteria into the product, which may spoil the active ingredients (a.k.a. the SPF or the antioxidants, both of which prevent Public Enemy No. 1: Wrinkles). Instead, use a new cotton swab or plastic applicator each time you dip in your jar. An added bonus: you wield better control over how much moisturizer you use, so nothing gets wasted. Which is great, if you plan on spending more than 20 smackers on the stuff ... which leads me back to the topic at hand ...
philosophy
I've heard a lot of glowing (pun intended) praise for this moderately pricey line of skin products. According to Sephora, the formula for their most popular philosophy product, Hope in a Jar, was orginally developed for the medical community, and is recommended by some of the world's most renowned plastic surgeons for younger-looking, healthier skin. An 8 oz. jar sells for $38.
I'll be trekking to my nearest Sephora tomorrow afternoon. If in a week, I love this stuff as much as the celebrities do, I'll let ya know.
It's time for a new moisturizer!
As most product whores will tell you, the biggest high we get (aside from the initial purchase of a new or favorite product), is getting it home and actually using it for the first time! Sometimes, especially if it's a lip gloss, I don't even wait 'til I get home. Funk 'dat.
But what could be better than opening up your brand-new jar of moisturizer for the first time and dipping into the smooth, unblemished surface? Not much, I say.
**Side Note**
Never stick your fingers into your moisturizer container. Even if you literally JUST washed your hands, you could potentially introduce bacteria into the product, which may spoil the active ingredients (a.k.a. the SPF or the antioxidants, both of which prevent Public Enemy No. 1: Wrinkles). Instead, use a new cotton swab or plastic applicator each time you dip in your jar. An added bonus: you wield better control over how much moisturizer you use, so nothing gets wasted. Which is great, if you plan on spending more than 20 smackers on the stuff ... which leads me back to the topic at hand ...
philosophy
I've heard a lot of glowing (pun intended) praise for this moderately pricey line of skin products. According to Sephora, the formula for their most popular philosophy product, Hope in a Jar, was orginally developed for the medical community, and is recommended by some of the world's most renowned plastic surgeons for younger-looking, healthier skin. An 8 oz. jar sells for $38.
I'll be trekking to my nearest Sephora tomorrow afternoon. If in a week, I love this stuff as much as the celebrities do, I'll let ya know.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Hair Success, or a Work in Progress?
Love thy hair. Use heat protector when you style. Get a trim every six weeks. Sleep on silk pillowcases. And go ahead. Yell at it every once in a while. For hair, like a toddler, needs a little frickin' discipline.
My new hairstylist Rosie is a complete doll. She may be young, but she's really got the gift of style. And on Saturday, I waltzed out of the salon $100 lighter, but a new woman. Gone were my straggly ends, replaced by a sleek and polished look very closely resembling Anne Hathaway's in Devil Wears Prada.
However - blow drying and styling the sucker at home is another matter altogether. And ladies? Can a sista get an AMEN?
Look, I'm not gonna brag - but I'm good with my hair. We have an understanding. I take care of it with the best and newest products and it rewards me by behaving, being shiny, and (hopefully) giving the illusion that I'm not quite as chub in the face as I perceive myself to be.
But for some reason, my hair has been acting like the little red-headed step child! Frizzy. Not laying properly. Making my face - quelle horreur - look more chub than normal! Granted, this morning, I was rushing around the apartment - i.e. packing for a day business trip to Nashville, sidestepping my honey as he struggled to get ready for work too, trying not to forget anything - so I didn't exactly have the time to devote to a perfect coif. The result?
Exactly.
But, the layers are right where I want them to be, and when it's not 400% humidity out and I'm not blow drying while sipping coffee - I LOVE it! I love the bangs, and I love Rosie. So, it's a hair success, but I'm still working on keepin' it that way.
As a side note ... check out this story from CNN
Puh-lease - let's be wary of this emerald eyeshadow trend. Emerald eyeshadow, even if it's Lancome or another high-quality brand, is very hard to apply, and even harder to pull off in normal, every day life (unless you're Drag Queen Samantha Jones, in which case ... ). Just look at poor Angie Harmon (ex-model, that is) in this lead photo - she kind of looks ... not so hot.
Use your finger to apply it (Only to your top lids. If you must have the all-around-the-eye color look, use a matching green eyeliner on the lower rims, to keep it from looking too messy), and keep a sheer gold dust shadow on hand to blend it with, in case you over apply. The sheer gold, in any shade, will take the edge off the hard, cold green and warm up the overall look. The goal is to have a pretty, flattering effect - not something that will make you look sickly.
But, my favorite trend for this fall is the red-stained pouty fish face. :-)
Laura Mercier makes an incredible lip stain in Scarlet - it's $20 at Sephora. You use such a tiny bit to achieve the stained matte look, you'll have the pot for years. Not to mention, this is such a wearable trend. Everyone can wear red lip color - you just need to find the best shade. The trick? I actually know the answer to that ... stay tuned!
My new hairstylist Rosie is a complete doll. She may be young, but she's really got the gift of style. And on Saturday, I waltzed out of the salon $100 lighter, but a new woman. Gone were my straggly ends, replaced by a sleek and polished look very closely resembling Anne Hathaway's in Devil Wears Prada.
However - blow drying and styling the sucker at home is another matter altogether. And ladies? Can a sista get an AMEN?
Look, I'm not gonna brag - but I'm good with my hair. We have an understanding. I take care of it with the best and newest products and it rewards me by behaving, being shiny, and (hopefully) giving the illusion that I'm not quite as chub in the face as I perceive myself to be.
But for some reason, my hair has been acting like the little red-headed step child! Frizzy. Not laying properly. Making my face - quelle horreur - look more chub than normal! Granted, this morning, I was rushing around the apartment - i.e. packing for a day business trip to Nashville, sidestepping my honey as he struggled to get ready for work too, trying not to forget anything - so I didn't exactly have the time to devote to a perfect coif. The result?
Exactly.
But, the layers are right where I want them to be, and when it's not 400% humidity out and I'm not blow drying while sipping coffee - I LOVE it! I love the bangs, and I love Rosie. So, it's a hair success, but I'm still working on keepin' it that way.
As a side note ... check out this story from CNN
Puh-lease - let's be wary of this emerald eyeshadow trend. Emerald eyeshadow, even if it's Lancome or another high-quality brand, is very hard to apply, and even harder to pull off in normal, every day life (unless you're Drag Queen Samantha Jones, in which case ... ). Just look at poor Angie Harmon (ex-model, that is) in this lead photo - she kind of looks ... not so hot.
Use your finger to apply it (Only to your top lids. If you must have the all-around-the-eye color look, use a matching green eyeliner on the lower rims, to keep it from looking too messy), and keep a sheer gold dust shadow on hand to blend it with, in case you over apply. The sheer gold, in any shade, will take the edge off the hard, cold green and warm up the overall look. The goal is to have a pretty, flattering effect - not something that will make you look sickly.
But, my favorite trend for this fall is the red-stained pouty fish face. :-)
Laura Mercier makes an incredible lip stain in Scarlet - it's $20 at Sephora. You use such a tiny bit to achieve the stained matte look, you'll have the pot for years. Not to mention, this is such a wearable trend. Everyone can wear red lip color - you just need to find the best shade. The trick? I actually know the answer to that ... stay tuned!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Committing a Beauty SIN
Well, it happened. I committed one of the Cardinal Sins of Beauty: "Thou shalt not squeeze blackheads."
I know, I know.
"Ew! That's nasty!"
Well, yes. It was quite nasty to go into the ladies' room at work (where all flaws are accentuated by the blue-white glow of the fluorescent lights) and see a big, black dot on the side of my chin.
Why didn't I see it while putting on my makeup? Why do buildings use these horrific lights? Why does it look so much bigger when I smile? God, it was like smooshing Silly Putty on a newspaper photo and then stretching it out.
I'm a fool, I know, but I can't resist squeezing those suckers. Usually, I use the inside of a bobby pin's hook to remove the black crud from said clogged pore (be careful if you use this method, it works, but you always run the risk of breaking a blood vessel or getting a small infection - it's always best to leave that sort of thing for an aesthetician). But since I was bobby pin-less, aesthetician-less and had a big meeting in five, I needed to act fast.
I squeezed. Nothing. I leaned toward the mirror to examine. Getting red. I squeezed again. Christ!! Now I had fingernail half-moons on my face.
I'll spare you the dirty details of what came (out) next, but after I left the bathroom with a bleeding, red chin, running late for a meeting - I made a two-part executive decision.
1. Always have a bobby pin on hand
2. Never lean that far over the bathroom sink at work without first checking for a giant puddle of someone's dirty hand-wash water, which will most certainly leave a sexy wet spot on your box.
I know, I know.
"Ew! That's nasty!"
Well, yes. It was quite nasty to go into the ladies' room at work (where all flaws are accentuated by the blue-white glow of the fluorescent lights) and see a big, black dot on the side of my chin.
Why didn't I see it while putting on my makeup? Why do buildings use these horrific lights? Why does it look so much bigger when I smile? God, it was like smooshing Silly Putty on a newspaper photo and then stretching it out.
I'm a fool, I know, but I can't resist squeezing those suckers. Usually, I use the inside of a bobby pin's hook to remove the black crud from said clogged pore (be careful if you use this method, it works, but you always run the risk of breaking a blood vessel or getting a small infection - it's always best to leave that sort of thing for an aesthetician). But since I was bobby pin-less, aesthetician-less and had a big meeting in five, I needed to act fast.
I squeezed. Nothing. I leaned toward the mirror to examine. Getting red. I squeezed again. Christ!! Now I had fingernail half-moons on my face.
I'll spare you the dirty details of what came (out) next, but after I left the bathroom with a bleeding, red chin, running late for a meeting - I made a two-part executive decision.
1. Always have a bobby pin on hand
2. Never lean that far over the bathroom sink at work without first checking for a giant puddle of someone's dirty hand-wash water, which will most certainly leave a sexy wet spot on your box.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Quest for the Perfect Stylist
I think it's because my mother was a cosmetologist; but I am such a snob about picking hair stylists.
I grew up around all the latest products and hair trends, and whenever the whim hit me I'd have a new style. For example, even though I already had curly hair, at age 8 I wanted to BE Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She had the BEST hair. Long, spiral curls, each perfectly defined as they cascaded down her shoulders. Who WOULDN'T want that hair, even now, nearly 20 years later.
Anyhoodle, I convinced my mother to give me a spiral perm - executed with the LATEST thing, the spiral rod, which looked like a bright blue pasta noodle. It was not a fun two hours, because each section of hair had to be threaded around the "noodles." Once the rods came off and the process was over, I basically resembled a brunette dandelion puff. Not a good look.
So many years later, in a new city, I have a new hair ambition - sort of a hybrid between Brenda Walsh circa 1993 and Anne Hathaway's made over style in The Devil Wears Prada. Long layers in the back, tons of face framing layers, and shorter bangs. I can't WAIT!
But with no stylist to help me pull it off, I had to turn to my good friend Sophia, a native of southwestern Connecticut who directed me to a stylist named Rosie. Sophia's hair always looks nice, so I figured I'd take her word for it. And when choosing a new stylist - you have to see her/his work to judge for yourself, before you pay $70 for a bad haircut.
The last time I chose a stylist, I had watched her work, and was very happy with her methodologies. Only after I watched her transform a friend's wispy, flat, ashy blonde into a shiny, dimensional bob was I convinced of her prowess as a stylist. And I was a happy client for 3 years.
I made an appointment for Saturday morning - so I'll keep you posted.
I grew up around all the latest products and hair trends, and whenever the whim hit me I'd have a new style. For example, even though I already had curly hair, at age 8 I wanted to BE Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She had the BEST hair. Long, spiral curls, each perfectly defined as they cascaded down her shoulders. Who WOULDN'T want that hair, even now, nearly 20 years later.
Anyhoodle, I convinced my mother to give me a spiral perm - executed with the LATEST thing, the spiral rod, which looked like a bright blue pasta noodle. It was not a fun two hours, because each section of hair had to be threaded around the "noodles." Once the rods came off and the process was over, I basically resembled a brunette dandelion puff. Not a good look.
So many years later, in a new city, I have a new hair ambition - sort of a hybrid between Brenda Walsh circa 1993 and Anne Hathaway's made over style in The Devil Wears Prada. Long layers in the back, tons of face framing layers, and shorter bangs. I can't WAIT!
But with no stylist to help me pull it off, I had to turn to my good friend Sophia, a native of southwestern Connecticut who directed me to a stylist named Rosie. Sophia's hair always looks nice, so I figured I'd take her word for it. And when choosing a new stylist - you have to see her/his work to judge for yourself, before you pay $70 for a bad haircut.
The last time I chose a stylist, I had watched her work, and was very happy with her methodologies. Only after I watched her transform a friend's wispy, flat, ashy blonde into a shiny, dimensional bob was I convinced of her prowess as a stylist. And I was a happy client for 3 years.
I made an appointment for Saturday morning - so I'll keep you posted.
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