On hiatus

My life is super crazy right now so I will be taking a short break from blogging but will be back soon!

Women+Wine+Budget Savvy Makeup Tips = Good Time

Join me October 29th, in Baltimore, at The Women's Wine and Dine event at Crush, (located in the terminally hip Belvedere Square), where amidst the wine pairing merriment two fabulous experts will speak about/help with how to get great Beauty & Style – on a budget!

Click here for more information

Hope to see you there!

Sometimes our purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others...

Came in to work (yes, I'm posting at work...shh...don't tell the boss lady), this morning to this lovely email from my SIL, N with the subject line reading: Topic for your blog. Prevage

After reading, I can't help but post...poor N...let this be a lesson to all of us, even good, over-hyped, products can turn on us. Yes, even the ones that have "proven results". Caution is key when trying anything new. Below is her review, ahem, email.

OMG
I am sitting here with my face ON FIRE...in a puffy rash & hives. Oh yeah. my neck too.
And apparently it doesn't go away for 5 days!!!! I get on a plane on saturday for work! DAMMIT
If you'd like the rest of my rash in a bottle, you are welcome to it.
I don't even know if I can get an appt at a derma tomorrow...uuurrggghhh.
I'm pretty. I guess my face is so puffy & red you can't see wrinkles..???

Thanks for sacrificing yourself in the name of beauty, N! I and all the other women of world who have had to hold their head, or hair, up high while suffering through a beauty disaster salute you!

If anyone has suggestions on how to help N get on her flight tomorrow red-inflamed-hived-face free please leave me a comment.

Do men make passes at girls who wear glasses?

Okay, so never mind the fact that the angle of this pic makes my forehead look abnormally large and the two deep creases that are happening on said abnormally large forehead, from the cocking of my brow, are making me seriously re-think the "Lox and Botox" session that my dermatologist is hosting this weekend, but I'm absolutely digging my new Vanni specs that I picked up from Paris West Optical this week. I would have never thought the shot of lime green would work with my coloring but Jordan and the Paris West team convinced me and now I'm finding it gives an unexpected highlight to my face. I'm totally loving the geek chic vibe they give off...and ps five random strangers complimented me on them in the past couple of days...all men.

Mark your calendars...

Spa Week hits the east coast October 13 - 19, (west coast ladies--it's happening now).
Click here for a list of participating spas in your area and more information on all that is Spa Week. Why is Spa Week so fabulous? 1. ) Special spa services are $50 and 2.) It's a great way to try out new spas and treatments without spending a fortune--some med spas are even participating, so go ahead and get your IPL hand treatment and Microdermabrasion on!

Most spas will be running extended hours during this fabulous week to accommodate all those that want instant beautification. Participating spas tend to book up quickly so make your reservation now, (I already did).

Happy spa hopping!

Mother's little helpers

To say the least, at this time in my life mornings, (and usually days and nights), are chaos. I get up earlier than everyone else in the house yet for some reason still only have about 30seconds to pull my self together before I head out the door for the school drop off and then to work. The following products are my life savers and a must for any multi-tasking moma on the go:

Tinted moisturizer - I'm partial to Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier, but have recently developed a fondness for Remede's Translucent UV Coat. Why tinted moisturizer instead of foundation? It's something that's easily slathered on, and when I say slather, I mean slather. It's a sheer to light coverage that you don't have to worry about messing up or over doing and bonus-- I don't know a brand that doesn't come with an SPF 15 or higher so your doing double duty and protecting your skin while beautifying.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron - This awesome matte gel formulation easily glides on lips, cheeks and eyes, giving you a fast shot of color to your face. My favorite color of the moment is Honest Politician, a subdued browny pink that gives off the "me, only better" vibe.

Sue Devit Eye Intensifier Pencil - On those day I don't have enough time for even a pale wash of shadow, let alone eyeliner, I use this chubby, velvety, smooth, pencil all over my lid and lower lash line. With a quick swipe of the built in smudger I have an instantly modern pulled together eye look. Surat, a bronzey taupe with just a hint of violet, is by far my favorite color for everyday.

And that's it...a swipe of mascara and I'm out the door...usually forgeting something that I will eventually remember 10 minutes into my commute...of course.

Big Shout Out to my gal pal J!

Who scored me the coveted-sold-out-everywhere-in-our-area-and-online-OPI for Sephora nail polish in Metro Chic at the Towson Town Center Grand Opening of Sephora. Boo to me for being stuck behind a desk and not being able to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, but how awesome is my girl J, schlepping her kids to the mall on a Friday to aid in my quest for trendy nail polish????

Damn, I've got good peeps!

Livin' La Vida Loca

AGGHHH!!!!!! With the start of kindergarten and high school for my boys, and deadlines looming for work, my posting has been off. I'm waking up early (too early) and when I hit the bed my ass, (and body...and brain...), is tired. I should be caught up with my projects tomorrow (hooray!) and more at ease with my busy school chauffeuring schedule and will be back posting this weekend.

Hope everyone is Fabulous!
~Stephanie

Breast Wishes

Happy anniversary to me! Two years ago today I had a breast reduction and while the recovery was a tad rocky and the process forced me to take a hard look at how I identify myself, I wouldn't trade the experience--or the results--for anything. A story detailing my surgery and recovery is--hopefully--soon to be published...I will post links when I have them.

There ain't no shame in my game

Tried: Sweet Spot Labs product line

True to my word I tried this line-- the gentle wash, balancing mist, eau de spot and on-the-go wipettes in the citrus galbanum scent. And, since I'm sure ya'll want me to spare you the gory details, I will say just this: Sweet Spot Labs is a fabulous product line. It works. It smells yummy and makes you feel fresh and clean and lovely sans the angry irritated vagina reaction one normally gets from some other well known cleansers. I even received a compliment while using the eau de spot, again I will spare you the details on that-- TMI-- but if that's not a testimony to this product I don't know what is.

Can you just head to your local drugstore and get something similar from Summer's Eve? Absolutely. Call me an intimate grooming snob but, I'm so keen on this product line and its offerings and all of its premium-grade sweetifiers, vitamins, botanicals, and pH balancers that I don't think I'd let anything else come between me and my va-jay-jay.

Home Sweet Home

Ahhh...home. I'm so happy to be back from what could be described as one of the worst vacations ever. Not only did it rain, (like torrential down pour rain), almost everyday, the temp hovered around 55 degrees and I ended up being stuck in a house with 15 other people that I don't have the slightest bit in common with except that I share DNA with their grandson/nephew/cousin.

I was only able to test out one bug repellent for about a half hour the whole vacation--Avon's SKIN SO SOFT BUG GUARD Plus PICARIDIN, which worked amazingly well and smelled beautifully clean, but will most definitely have to test a few times more in an environment more conducive to, I don't know, Bugs, Sun and Fun. I did use a new, fun, mascara while I was away and also tried out some awesome organic bath products by Savor. Reviews and details to follow.

So happy to be back to my routine again.

Lobsters and puffins and whales, oh my!

Sorry my posting hasn't been up to par this week. I've been busy with my day job and trying to figure out how to pack the entire contents of my house so that it will fit neatly into a very small car carrier for our annual family to trip to Maine.

Ahh... Maine. Home of the 24 hour LL Bean, a place where the streets are cleaner, the smell of sweet salt water permeates the air, the lobsters are cheap and the whoopie pies are to die for. Most days I get up and run my fingers through my hair, throw it into a pony tail, slather on sunscreen, curl my lashes--eschewing mascara--and dab a little rosebud salve on my lips before I head out the door. I get back to nature. I kayak every morning and take a long mountain or ocean cliff hike, (depending on where we are at the time), in the afternoon.

Of course, I can't leave the product junkie side of me behind for too long...and since I'm liable to be jonesin' for a fix 3-4 days into our trip, I'm bringing along some natural/organic products to experiment with. Because I hate to smell of Eau de DEET, I'm bringing Anti Bug Badger Balm, Buzz Away Spray, and pretty much the whole "Original" Skin So Soft line, to see if I can come up with a concoction to ward of the vicious deer flies and gigantic mosquitoes without the smell and side effects of all those nasty chemicals. I'm also bringing my fav Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream, and Kiss My Face Sun Spray, and will most definitely be on the hunt for homemade bath and cosmetic products at local farmers markets...oh and I've decided to try out a crystal deodorant, but not to worry, should it fail I will be bringing along my trusty Degree Clinical backup.

So my lovelies, I will be signing off for about a week. I'm hoping to have some great adventures to share with you when I return!

OPI for Sephora

Hurry up and launch this line already would ya Sephora?????

I've been reading about it and hearing little snippets here and there and I'm dying to play with the new 54 long-lasting, chip-resistant polishes that are free of DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde. First on my list to try: "Metro Chic" (a gray khaki-ish shade that looks curiously like Butter London's Fash Pack) and "Never Enough Shoes" (A shiny shade of dense black infused with microscopic silver, gold and multi-colored sparkles).

So here I am Sephora Execs...waiting...ready to book my mani appointment as soon as you give the word...sigh...

Fish Food?

Yet another one to try before I die...
Check out the Jet Set Girls post on the Fish Pedicure at Yvonne Salon, (located in Alexandria, VA). A pedi where garra rufa fish ("doctor fish") swim about your feet and nibble the crust and callus away. Ewww...a shiver just went up my spine...I may need to think a little longer on this one.

Major Lash Deal/Steal!

For the ladies on a fab lash quest like me: Exclusively from Sephora, Limited edition, "The Lash Stash" a mascara kit with seven travel sized black mascaras that allows you to test-drive a new mascara every day until you find your true lash love.

The kit includes: Benefit A Little Bit BADgal Lash, Blinc Kiss Me Mascara, LORAC Publicity Stunt Lashes, Smashbox Bionic Mascara, Stila Multi-Effect Mascara, Sephora Brand Lash Plumper and Too Faced Lash Injection .

And for only $28--that's only $4 per mascara, and considering that a travel sized BADgal normally runs you about $9-- that's what we call a major SCORE!

I'm jumpin right on this bargain train, catch you ladies at the check out!

Tried: Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara

The claim: "This revolutionary formula is packed with elastic 3D-polymers that coat the entire lash and stretch past its natural end, creating a dramatic volumizing and lengthening effect".

My official reaction after two weeks of testing: Ehh....

The product definitely created volume and lengthened my lashes. But with dramatic effect? Not so much. It wasn't what I'd call super lengthening or super volumizing, and took more than a couple of coats to get to the desired effect. I would say that with the mascara my lashes looked like my natural lashes with just a tad of enhancement. It gave me a kind of soft, fluttery, look. Which don't get me wrong, is a great look-- a soft, pretty, look-- but I wasn't going for soft. I want look-at-me lashes, va-va-voom lashes. I want to bat a lash and have men come to their knees...okay, that might be going a bit too far, but you get the point; this mascara didn't quite deliver in that area.

So it's back to my quest for the mascara that will create the most perfect natural but dramatic lashes. I've heard some really good things about Blinc's Kiss Me mascara and one of the bubbly sales girls at Sephora told me that she and the rest of the gals at the Columbia store swear by Fresh's Supernova, so those will be next on my list to try, but for now it's back to my old faithful, BADgal Blue.

For the lazy girl in all of us

New at Sephora: ColorOn Eye Envy kits, ($25), one-size-fits-all mineral cream eyeshadow appliqués. Yep, appliqués. Stick them on your eye, rub gently, set with powder, (provided in kit), et voila a well fashioned eye in half the time it would normally take you and without the makeup mess on your vanity. Kits run from the tame color choices to the extreme, (i.e. the Exotic kit).

You know you want to try it! So stop into a Sephora near you and play with one today!

Practice Safe SPF

E.L.F. wants you to practice safe SPF and is offering yet another beauty bargain to help you on this quest--Free Hydro Tint with SPF 15 with a minimum purchase of $20. And, hello, that amount can get you a ton of cosmetic with this line. My pick on how to spend your $20: the "Get A Glow Kit" or custom made kit with the multistripe organizer bag.

Just use promotion code: EGHYDAR check out

File this under: To do before I die

Check out S.H. Rhee's article: "Lather, Wince, Repeat" chronicling her jimjilbang (Korean spa) experience. Although Rhee describes in detail how the spa’s skin sloughing regime is less than delicate, she readily admits her skin never looked so good post treatment. My curiosity is peaked! A little necessary spa roughness never scared me off in the quest for rejuvenated skin and body,(like the Thai massage at Canyon Ranch Spa, Las Vegas of 2005 that left me with bruised wrists and ankles). And if I'm not mistaken, I believe that a similar spa in Hollywood is the secret to a certain few buffed bodied actresses flawless, young looking skin.

Now, if I can just find a spa buddy to go with me...

Products on my radar this month

Here's a sneak peak at the products I will be playing with, ahem, testing this month:

• Face Boutique Sweep Clean Cleanser on a Cloth - No brainer there. Although, I am a little thrown off by the "for young skin" copy on their packaging...is 34 for too old for this product???
  
• Lipstick Queen Oxymoron in Honest Politician - I'm all about a multi-tasker and this multi purpose matte gloss for cheeks and lips just may fit the bill.
  
• By Terry Soliel de Rose - A tinited skincare enhancer that produces a golden glow and hydrated skin with out the normal self-taning agents, and since I'm a tad inept when it comes to self-taning I'm hoping for great things with this product.
  

You know you didn't do something right when...

The kind lady that hands you the daily paper as you step off the metro does a double take and asks you if you're feeling okay, adding that she never sees you look this bad.

Thanks, random daily paper lady. I get it. A 30 second makeup application doesn't work for me. And, I thought I looked so fresh and Caroline Bisset Kennedy-esque with my multi-purpose Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, Benefit Posie Tint, and Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara combination (which, p.s. minus one point for the Lash Injection mascara I'm trying out)...apparently I need a little bronzer, eyeliner, and concealer to make myself presentable to the metro riding/newspaper distributing public. I appreciate the random act of honesty.

Note to self: Always carry a handy dandy bag of cosmetic essentials that stays in your work tote for those days it's impossible to get in the proper amount of "face time".

Go E.L.F. Yourself!

Attention all you lovelies out there that are feeling the sky rocketing cost of gas and groceries crunch down on your beauty budget: The fabulous E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips, Face) Line is giving away a full size Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder with purchase.
Enter one of these codes below in the promotion section during check out:
Sunkissed - ECBROAZ
Warm Tan - ECBROBZ
Luminance - ECBROCZ

What are you waitng for? Go E.L.F. Yourself!

Happy shopping!

Everything you need to know about sunscreen

I know I'm not the only one to finally come around to wearing sunscreen everyday, (yes, even when it's cloudy out), especially if you're like me and --gasp!-- found your first age spot before you turned 35, but for those of you who have not become a slave to SPF, check out Jolie Nadine's (aka Jolie NYC) blog entry on "Everything you need to know about sunscreen".

It's a must read!

A new quest for fab lashes

After my close gal pal's wedding this weekend, I'm re-thinking where lashes/mascara fall in my list of priorities. It used to be that I obsessed on clear dewy skin and immaculate brows, thinking that if these two things were in place I could survive with little or no makeup. I'm now adding mascara and false lashes in that line up. J's fabulous makeup artist not only used a couple of great mascaras by Trish McEvoy, but also put individual lashes on us gals of the bridal party, and the results were amazing. J's lashes (pictured above) were definitely dramatic by everyday standards, but for an evening, black-tie, wedding they were simply perfect. The lashes on all of us just gave our eyes a little more pop...made us all look just a little more glamorous, and I truly understood just how much the right mascara and some extra lash could take anyone from pretty to Va-Va-Voom.

My new quest is two fold:

1.) Find the absolute best mascara for me. One that lengthens (sans scary, spidery, clumping effect) and adds volume.

2.) If it takes me till my death bed I will perfect the art of adding individual and bands of lashes with out gluing my own eye lashes together or putting the lashes on crooked.

Wish me luck!

Due to technical difficulties...

Ugh! My cable provider is tinkering with the T1 line and making it virtually impossible to post. I'm hoping to be on-line again shortly.
Boo to Comcast!

For the fashionista in all of us

Check out A Mom In Red High Heels' blog entry on How to Wear Brightly Colored Heels.
She features "High Tea" by Naughty Monkey pumps with coordinating outfits. AMIRHH is so genius! I would so rock the turquoise heels with the Banana Republic coral, cap sleeved, ruched trim top and the Martin fit wide leg khaki pants...with a bronzed eye, chocolate liner, a little Benefit Cosmetic's Glamazon on the cheeks and lips with Lip Fusion lip gloss in "Fresh" to top it off, of course.

Attention What Not To Wear Fans

I'm a huge Stacy and Clinton fan, but have to admit one of the most exciting parts of the show is the hair a makeup segment. We all know we can bring a little Carmindy home with us, with her makeup line created with Sally Hansen, but now we can bring Nick home in a bottle. Nick Arrojo is debuting his own haircare line, aptly named Arrojo, at Space Space NK stores, (also available on-line). Price points are $13 for Shampoo and $15 for Conditioner with styling products that run the gamut. I'll be picking up the moisturising shampoo and conditioner post haste!

And, for those of you living in the NJ/NYC area check out a Space NK store near you-- it's a good time. My personal favorite is their SoHo location...ahhh...a Sunday in SoHo...a little brunch at Bathalzar, a hot chocolate pedi, and maybe a triple oxygen facial, at Bliss, a little shopping at Space NK and Lush, and my life is complete...SIGH....

Mmm... the sweet smell of feet

I'm not sure what happened in the creation of me, but somehow I got stuck with the stinky, sweaty, feet gene. To say the least it's a pretty unsexy trait to have, (I would say "as woman", but it's pretty damn unsexy for a man too). The summer, of course, is when it's at its worst. Sometimes, with the sweat, even wearing flip-flops can be a disaster--the bottoms of my feet have sweat so much that I have slid off my Havaianas and twisted an ankle and scraped up a hip. Now, I know there are some alternative therapies out there for this, but at this point in time injecting Botulism into my soles kind of scares me. What I discovered, that is truly fabulous, was right on the self at my friendly, neighborhood, Target. Sally Hansen's Vanilla Lavender All Day Foot Spray. Not only does it have a yummy, non-medicinal smell, it stops the sopping sweating mess that are my feet, with a very natural ingredient and antiseptic: tea tree oil. I not only use this product on the bottom of my feet, but also in my socks and shoes, and sometimes even my gym bag.

My only tip/trick for this product would be to be very careful of not letting the spray coat newly polished toes, as it dulls the shine off the top coat quickly. To protect my pedi, before spraying, I rub or brush a little Solar Oil onto each of my little piggies...baby oil would work in a pinch as well.

And speaking of "your WHERE"...

I was perusing yet another cosmetic site, (spalook.com), and checking out some boscia Peppermint Blotting Linens, when what should I see out of the corner of my eye but "Customers who purchased this also bought..." Naturally, my cosmetic whoring ADD kicks in and I scroll down the page, but what I landed on what not something I expected. A product called SweetSpot Labs On-The-Go Wipettes Singles.


Wait. Is that a drawing of a woman's lower half ? Huh? This is a cosmetic site right? People who are looking for a product to blot the oil and sweat off their forehead are also looking for that???


Sure enough this product is one of the latest in the demand for Vajay-jay chic accouterments or "Intimate Grooming Escensuals", as they like to be referred to. SweetSpot Labs'®, (yes, it’s a real lab), is a complete intimate grooming collection of luxury care intended for your “sweetest spot”, not just limited to on-the-go wipes, but also offers cleansers, balancing mists, “bidet in a bottle” and Spa Waxing Protocol Kits, that are formulated and pH balanced specifically for optimum vulvar health. Products contain mild ingredients specially chosen to blend with soothing botanicals, and are absent of alcohol. That means less risk of burning, yeast infections and UTIs, which is precisely why Shari Creed started her wildly popular company. She was among the thousands of women frustrated by constant urinary tract infections, and other womanly issues, but was unable to find a solution that didn’t involve living in a state of chronic discomfort, so she turned her sights on a more organic and holistic approach and looked for a way to develop products that were more appropriate and nurturing for a woman’s body.

The thing is, as a little taken a back as I was at first, it's actually a product I would consider using. I mean, who hasn't had an issue with a cleanser that wasn't quite so sensitive in "that area" and left you with an unhappy, irritated, vagina? And, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has on occasion, in anticipation of a romp or rendezvous, maybe spritzed a little somethin' somethin' in that general vicinity. I'm totally game for this. I'm also kind of digging the Chic Earth Mother vibe the company's got going on, with copy that reads “You're at the door to paradise and procreation”. The site almost makes you feel like your mother or grandmother is talking to you about “sweet spot” health, but not in that cheesy 80’s, mother and daughter, walking in a field, dicussing that “not so fresh feeling”, commercial, kind of way. Oh, and I’m absolutely dying to see this product featured on The Big Idea if not just for Donny Deutsch’s expression/response alone. Check this company out today! Your Sweet Spot will thank you for it.

You put WHAT? On your WHERE?

Do you remember the episode from SATC where Samantha discovered a gray hair down there and decided to dye her nether regions? The color didn't develop quite as expected and she called Carrie into the bathroom, at Brady's 1st birthday party no less, to cry over her "Bozo The Clown" bush. It's too bad she didn't know about Betty. Betty products are especially formulated color dyes "for the hair down there" and come in classic Blonde, Auburn and Brunette shades. But for those ladies whose taste run on the wild side, Betty also has shades in "Fun", a hot pink hue, and "Malibu", a blue shade that's being marketed to brides-to-be...yes, brides...get it?..."something blue"?...Ha Ha...it's like your own little private naughty joke...gotta love the creator's sense of humor, but I digress...

Ya know, I've botched an at-home dye job...or two...in my time, and even though I'd like to think with my age and experience I've kind of got the whole process down pat now, I'm still not quite sure my "Betty" is ready. And, I'm not quite sure what J would think if I came to bed with a hot pink "landing strip", but I have to admit I am kind of curious... a tad intrigued....and I'm that girl that will usually try anything once...hmmm...only $19.99?

Hmmm...People's Hottest Bachelors 2008

Okay, I'll give him that his abs and pecs are absolutely wicked, but the rest, for me, ehhh. And, call me not open-minded, but didn't he cheat on his wife or soon-to-be wife (the Doritos Girl)? That's a major deal breaker in my book. And the other thing that throws me for a loop...he stars in A Chorus Line? Huh?...I just don't get it. What were you thinking People?

2 minutes and out the door

Here's my routine and product pics for those days you sleep through the alarm or are so engrossed with the kids you didn't realize what time it was...

1. Sunscreen on face, neck, chest, arms...you get the idea (I usually use Korres Watermelon Face Cream Sunscreen, but in a hurry I use my Nutrogena Sunblock Stick)


2. Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 slathered on face


3. Benefit Lemon-aid, (a soft yellow correcting cream that helps redness and discoloration on eyelids disappear) quickly swept over lid from lower lash line to brow bone


4. Becca's Beach Tint, (a soft watermelon pink blendable crème stain) smudged into apples of cheeks, and quickly blended into crease of eyes and rubbed in lips


5. Too Face Caribbean in a Compact in Snow Bunny - (a light bronzer for fair skin gals with just the slightest hint of pink quartz shimmer), quickly swept, using Sugar's Body Brush, where the sun would naturally hit you--I also like to sweep a little under my cheek bones to give a bit of definition.


6. Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifier pencil - (My fav is Surat, a bronzey-taupe), smudged on upper and lower lash line (the velvety smooth texture of this chubby pencil make this effortless)


7. Two quick swipes of Bare Escentuals Big Tease Mascara


8. Throw on headband, grab keys and/or kids and run out the door...

* Hung over? Didn't get enough sleep? Use a navy liner on top lash line only, (I like Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Gel Liner in Cobalt Ink), followed by a blue mascara, (like Benefits' Bad Gal Blue), and add a pinch more pink to the cheeks, (B.E.'s blush in Kiss is perfect)...and off you go.

Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit now available pre-launch at Sephora

This is huge! Laura Mercier, the queen of the "flawless face", is now offering a Flawless Face Kit ($65) only at Sephora. The kit contains:

• 1oz tinted moisturizer
• 1oz foundation primer
• Undercover pot (2 concealers and loose powder)
• Powder puff and foundation sponge
• Two brushes (which look suspiciously like LM's secret camouflage brushes)
• Clear zip case (Hmmm...clear zip case and 1oz sizes...sounds like this handy kit will also work in your carry on bag)

The kit comes in two shades Nude (for light to medium skin) and Sand (for medium - tan skin), and is available pre-launch, (yes, you can get first dibs), to all Sephora Insiders. Not a Sephora Insider? Click here to sign up. It takes only a few seconds and not only will you get the skinny on pre-launches and the new must have products, but you can customize your preferences for tailored makeup and skin care recommendations, as well...oh and did I mention you get rewarded for shopping???? What are you waiting for? Sign up!

Monday evenings just got exciting again

I don't know about you, but I'm super psyched for the return of Weeds and the premier of Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Ahhh...adult content shows, (that are actually worth watching)...I can hardly wait for Nancy Botwin and Belle to rescue me from my preschooler appropriate programming hell. And hello, who else has an emerging girl crush on Billie Piper?

On a side note: I'm soooo loving the pinup inspired publicity photos. They're vintage, fun and kitchy without being tacky, as well as, sexy and really make a woman look like, well, a woman. This style of photography has really taken off in my area. More and more women are booking shoots with local pinup photographers and it's not uncommon for a group of girlfriends to book a shoot together. Over a year or two ago, my gal pal M and I booked a spring shoot with Bombs Over Betty Photography, and the February before that, another girlfriend of ours booked a Valentine themed shoot with BOB. It's actually kind of liberating. You walk in with your insecurities and bad body concept and end up leaving feeling totally sexy and confident, if only for the next few hours, (hey--10 minutes of feeling that way is worth it). With the hair, makeup, vintage corsets and stockings, the camaraderie of women of all shapes and sizes, and a photographer that is totally into you, it's easy to forget, or not care, that you're walking around half naked, as my friend M had to remind me during our shoot that was on location, outside, in a neighborhood near a major intersection--Ooops, my bad! If you're in the Baltimore Metro area, or hell even PA or VA--it's worth the drive--check out Bombs Over Betty or Atomic Cheesecake...it will be a fabulously good time!

A little goomin' for the baby daddy in your life

Along with the prerequisite tie and gift card to Home Depot, here are some fabulous tried and true gifts for the slightly metro male in your life...and for those of you that have the more "retro-sexual" guy, it never hurts to drop a little hint, hint...

1. Lush's Woosh Shower Jelly, ($12) - This block of jelly, (yes, block of jelly--It's like a shower jello jiggler for adults), is an invigorating, citrusy and clean, yet still very masculine body wash, well, er, jelly. Your man can use his testosterone as he sees fit by ripping off chunks of the gel--with his bare hands--or squishing it in between his toes while he washes himself to clean-dom come.



2. Kiehl's Groom with Silk Creme, ($17) - Is your guy so retro he scoffs at pomade and his stomach churns at the thought of transforming paste? Well then start him off with this cult classic. It leaves the hair soft but non-greasy and has just this slightest smidge of hold. This product is also good for those guys who don't regularly use conditioner, which uh, would be most of them.



3. Kiehl's Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, ($15) - Another one from the Kiehl's line and one of their most popular products. A luxurious shave cream spiked with menthol and camphor that not only helps promote a close shave but leaves the skin in amazing condition post shave.

In the immortal words of Britney Spears...

Oops! I did it again.
UGH--Self tanner woes! Why? Why? Why? Why can't I just get the application perfect without messing up when it comes to my ankles and feet? Why couldn't I just be happy using the Sublime Glow?...Why did I step up to the Sublime Self Tanning Lotion? I always get myself into trouble when I use more than a "subtle shade enhancer". I know better. Damn you, Gods O' Bronze! You seduced me with promises of golden, sun-kissed skin within 4-6 hours,(... and the delusional thinking that the darker coloring might make me look 10lbs thinner, but that's another story), and now you've left me with streaky feet and the backs of ankles that look like I've played in mud and haven't washed for days. Agh!

Now I'm off to hit the tub with my friend Mr. Pumice Stone to see if I can undo some of this damage...

Potentially Amazing Product Alert

Fekkai's Summer Hair - Zero Humidity Control
($22, Sephora)
The claim: "Fear no humidity from day to night with this spay on antidote for frizz-prone hair that seals the cuticle to stay sleek."

Whaa???? Really??? With my naturally curly, frizz-a-licious, white girl 'fro, (that I spend entirely way too much time straightening), and Baltimore's humidity, I have to try this!

Here's hoping to a miracle in a bottle--I will report back my findings very soon!

Something you should be wearing everyday but you're probably not

Did you know even if you use makeup with an SPF you would need to use at least two tablespoons worth of the product to receive any of the sun protecting benefits? Wow--that's a lot of foundation / tinted moisturizer/powder/schlack--especially if you live in a humidity filled climate, (Can we say major meltdown?). So what's a girl on a perfect skin quest to do? Wear a good broad spectrum sunscreen everyday. Yes, under your spf'd makeup and yes, I know, this is not something you haven't heard before. Right now I'm loving Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30 ($28, Sephora). It is a tad rich, and contains a bit of titanium dioxide, so you definitely have to work it in and let your skin soak it up a bit before applying your barrage of cosmetics, but the extra time spent in my opinion is worth it. I love this cream! I skip my moisturizer and just use this product because of its richness, and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin--even the delicate skin around my puffy, dark circles, ahem, I mean eyes. And, hey did I mention it's organic--BONUS!

Now, I know that some of you, a.) just don't have nearly enough time let anything soak in and, b.) may not want to spend $28 plus shipping on a 1.69oz tube of sunscreen, (even if it does last a long time), because we're inching closer to recession and that $28 needs to go into savings--I hear ya sister. In such cases I would also highly recommend, the old faithful, Oil of Olay (yes, Olay...if it was good enough for grandma and has stood the test of time, it's good enough for you). The one I really dig is Olay Complete All Day UV Defense Moisture Lotion (about $9, in most drugstores). It's light, non-greasy, designed for sensitive skin and has great UV protection with a bit zinc oxide thrown in for good measure. This product doesn't really need any soakin' in time just slather this on and go.

PS- Don't forget to slather some SPF on your hands, neck, décolleté, and ears!

...And we're back!

Okay, okay, I haven't been so good about keeping up with this blog. Shame on me. Just a tiny blip, promise. I'll be back to posting post-haste!
~S

Arachnophobia

So....I finally tried a Lancome mascara. Fatale to be exact. I must be doing something wrong. I can't quite figure it out. It would seem simple enough. Remove wand from tube, place wand at base of upper lashes, wiggle wand back and forth, then gradually work your way to angled sweeping stokes...I mean, I've only been doing this for about 22 years now...I should have this down pat. So why, when I use this tried and true application method do I get the nastiest spider-lashes known to man? It's really not pretty. Definitely not the big, thick, glossy, feathery, perfectly separated lashes I've been looking for. The product almost glues my lashes together (picture lashes coming together in a triangle formation), then creates a feathery extension, (creating that oh so lovely spider web effect), that within minutes flakes off. I tried repeatedly to give it a chance, after all Lancome allegedly "knows mascara", but alas after many a try, Fatale just doesn't do it for me and is tossed in the garbage with the other much over hyped mascaras, (move over Dior Show and Great Lash you've got company).

As of right my all time favorite mascaras are still:

• Bare Essentials Big Tease


• Benefit's Bad Gal Blue


• Rimmel London Lash Maxxx


• Molten Brown's Voluminous Mascara in Smoke--which, boo, they don't make anymore

All of which deliver in the feathery, flirtatious, no clump, lash department.

My First Post!

Okay, so I've decided to give this a shot, after many a friend and former co-worker suggested that I just had way too much "product" knowledge and tips not to share with the rest of the world. I'm not a makeup artist or cosmetologist. I'm just a gal who has a love affair with all things cosmetic and am on the eternal quest for the perfect eyebrow shape and most beauteous skin, hair, and nails. Some of my earliest memories involve playing with my mother's makeup, ("Avon calling!"), and experimenting with my mother and grandmother's goodies shelved inside their bathroom vanities. I'll pretty much try anything once, (Manic Panic, anyone?), but I'm also very in tune to works best for me. I'm here to share my love, knowledge, and experiences with the cosmetic world, but please, by all means, share your experiences with me as well!

Best,
Stephanie