Leighton's Emmy makeup

You either loved it or hated it: Leighton Meester's Emmy makeup. Personally, I thought LM looked like Snow White and really pulled off the whole dramatic eyes, sculpted cheeks, and bold lips thing. Not an easy feat, considering the temp on the red carpet was in the upper 90s. My face would have undoubtedly melted onto my dress.


But alas, it is nowhere NEAR 90 in NYC and so I'm inspired to try this. Personally, I'll be trying this with more of a bare cheek (shiny apples would look horrid on me), so I've improvised below.

Eyes:

Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Earth Reflection (a neutral palette of smoky browns, plus a pink and a gold highlighter shade)

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Burgandy 18L and Matte Black 0L

Lancome Hypnose Mascara in black

Cheeks:

Benefit Georgia on cheekbones only (this tends to be more of a peachy highlight for me, since it's a very light shade and I'm fair-medium skinned)

Lips:


Sally Hansen Natural Beauty (Inspired by Carmindy) Color Comfort Lip Color in Sangria
OR
MAC Dubonnet, Red Pepper, or Fresh Moroccan
I'm telepathically channeling my makeup stash for these shades, but I'm sure I have lots more that'll work. The key here is not going too light or too pink. Leighton's wearing more of a wine shade, so if in doubt, go darker and vampy-er - you can always blot.

can you "smize"?

I can't. I've tried to...and I can't.

Smize is a term that Tyra Banks has coined, and it means smiling with your eyes. FYI, coincidentally, it's also the name of her alter superhero ego.

You'll recognize all this smize talk if you guys watched America's Next Top Model last night. The entire show was dedicated to the not-so-easy task of smizing. I was SO intrigued by this smizing phenomenon because I am usually one to smouth (my own term for smiling with one's mouth) and not smize. All. the. time. I don't think there's a single photo of me where I'm not smouthing. I've actually tried to do what I think is smizing, but I end up coming off like a squinty freak who is trying too hard to smize. Smizing, apparently, is not to look forced in any way shape or form.

According to TB, anyone can perfect a smize. Here's how:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep shoulders down as if somebody is pushing them down. Keep neck up. Make believe there's a string coming out of the top of your head, squint, put your hand on your tummy and think of something delicious.

Well, if smizing is that easy, I had to try it right then and there! I followed her instructions, stood in front of a mirror, and thought of cupcakes. Then chocolate. Then shrimp tempura. For some reason, I was unable to smize. Sour patch kids. PopChips. Still not there. I definitely felt happy thinking about these things, but you wouldn't know it without my signature toothy smile.

The problem was, every time I tried to smize, I ended up grinning slightly, which is a major smize no-no. Maybe I'm destined to never smize, or perhaps it just takes more practice. Until then, I'll continue to smouth as usual, and take the Olsen twins' prune idea for pictures, which I happen to think is brilliant.

the Latisse phenomenon

Funny story – this month, three different people (one of whom is my new dermatologist) asked me if I used Latisse. Latisse, as you probably know from seeing ads EVERYWHERE, is the prescription product that you brush onto sparse lashes to make them grow thicker, longer, and darker. Although I was flattered that people think my lashes were Rx-enhanced, they are not. My lashes are au naturel.

I don’t consider myself genetically blessed in very many aspects, but I managed to inherit very long lashes from some random member of my family. It’s not my mom, and it sure isn’t my dad, who I’m pretty sure doesn’t even have eyelashes. I kid, I kid – I’m sure he does, but they aren’t very visible. I love my long lashes, but I have to say they can be a nuisance at times. I know all you short-lashed folks would kill me for complaining, but hear me out. It’s hard to find a mascara that doesn’t make them look fake and TOO long. I’m all for dramatic eyes on a Saturday night, but for work, I’d prefer not to look like I’m wearing falsies. For example, Maybelline Lash Stiletto was a disaster on me (as was Fiberwig). My lashes were so long they were curving upward onto my brow bone!

To avoid that, I tend to gravitate toward thickening mascaras to give the illusion of volume rather than length. On my lashes now is Lancome Hypnose Drama, which has a cool S-shaped curved wand and coats my lashes without leaving clumps (I loathe clumpy mascara). An amazing pick if you’re long-but-thin-lashed like myself.

The beauty experimentalist in me would love to try Latisse for its thickening properties, but I probably shouldn't. I'd hate to have to end up trimming my lashes because, as you know, beauty experimentalists do crazy things like that as well.

tans reigned at the VMAs

You know, a tan is an awfully hard thing to get just right, especially in famouspeopleland where there's an unlimited supply of free airbrush tanning liquid.

I applaud Miss Whitney Port here for getting the perfect fall-appropriate glow. Just last week Whit was seen at a few NY fashion shows looking pale (and pretty! Trust me, I have no problems with pale), and last night she looked like a glowing goddess.

I'm literally on my last droplet of my beloved Nivea Sunkissed Firming gradual moisturizer, so I'm scouting out a new one to try. Next on my list: Mystic Tan's Glow Moisturizer SPF 15. I love that it's a gradual with sunscreen (you all know I've been a sunblock Nazi lately) - perfection in a bottle.

Feeling inspired to tan tonight? Make it last all week with this tip from Mystic Tan's founder, Ricky Croft: before showering, apply a thin coat of light body oil to create a natural barrier to protect your skin. No more gross patches of worn-off tanner - sign me up!

VMA style: Taylor Swift

I didn't think it was possible, but I love T.Swift more now than I did before last night. Not only does that girl now have everyone and their MOTHER on her side after what happened on stage (I won't even discuss the antics of kiss-my-a** Kanye), but she looked flawless. Literally, flawless! Look at her skin. It's porcelain perfection. Quite refreshing to see amongst her fellow stars who all looked like they've been bronzed within an inch of their life. Also loving the red lips - looks like it could be MAC Chili - and the fact that she chose not to go bare on the eyes.

Some argue that this goddess-y dress and glam makeup was a bit too much for the laid-back carpet of the VMAs, but I think it made her stand out and look sophisticated beyond her 19 years. Well done!

MTV VMA style: Kristin's long pony

Normally, I'd think long ponytails are cheesy and tacky-looking, but I really really love this look on Kristin Cavallari at the VMAs. I'm pretty sure there's some hair extension action going on in there, but she manages to make it look sleek and pretty.

I might, MIGHT, just be inspired to buy hair extensions just so I too could pull this off. However, I fear I may come off more street-walkerish than red carpet-ready.

What's your take on extensions? I have a major history with them (I'll tell you that story another time), but I feel as though they will make a comeback in my stash very soon.

the perfect shave

The perfect shave - does it really exist? I used to think no, because although I've been shaving my legs for 14 years (holy good god) I'm clutzy as hell with a razor. Not one shave goes by that I don't get a nick here, a cut there, end up with dryness, razor burn, redness, missed patches of stubble, you name it. I used to think there was something wrong with ME, but then I realized that my shaving tool kit - if you can even call it that - really sucked.

Problem number one: don't laugh, but for nearly a decade and a half I used those pink Gillette "Daisy" razors that I first started using at the ripe young age of 12. And why shouldn't I? They were good enough for mom all those years, and they were cheap (I'm sorry, but college Jill would have much rather spent $10 on a Grey Goose and cranberry than a Venus Divine). I have since learned that your razor makes THE biggest difference - the more blades, the better. It also really helps to have a built-in moisture strip to help the razor glide across the skin rather than pull it. The Schick Intuition is my all-time favorite, because it's got a cool chunk of bar soap all around it and my legs never get dry or razor burned when I use it. The downside is that the soap rim wears out in, like, 3 shaves - but I keep using it anyway (it's got four blades unlike my sad little Daisy which has two). For times that I'm too broke to get the Intuition, the Schick Quattro is my trusty standby, and also much more travel-friendly.

Problem number two: Bar soap really sucks for shaving. It does. But then again, why buy shave gel? It always felt like one of those "do I really need it?" beauty products. To this day I'm not a huge fan of shave gel because a) I do not need another bottle in my shower and b) there are other things you can use in its place. I always mix a dollop of my body wash with a dollop of hair conditioner - works like a charm.

Problem number three: Dryness and itching used to be a major post-shave problem - until I started moisturizing RIGHT after getting out of the shower. If dryness is your only problem, pick a lotion, any lotion, and use it. If razor burn is an issue, use a bit of Bikini Zone gel (totally acceptable to use it on non-bikini areas) with an unscented lotion or one made for sensitive skin and slather it on.

Do you have any happy shaving tips? Now that fall's coming, my dry skin is going to need extra TLC. And I refuse to revert back to my shave-once-a-week rule because my skin is SO dry. It's not a good look.

love this cut

I don't watch the show, but I must admit that I've lusted over almost every single 90210 cast member's haircut or color at some point in recent months. Case in point: I love love love LOVE Jessica Stroup's chin-length haircut, but probably would never have the guts to chop off a foot of my own hair. It's cute but somehow also sexy and looks easy to style - that is, unless you have a mop of frizzy waves like I do, which is why I could never EVER pull this off. When it comes to hair COLOR, you guys know how experimental I am. But come near me with scissors and I'd probably try to set them on fire. It's quite sad...

ANTM "ty-overs"

A new season of America's Next Top Model is upon us, and this time around, I'm SO excited because Tyra has chosen girls under 5'7 to compete. I don't know why she kept calling the ladies "petite" during last night's 2 hour season premiere, because the last time I checked, 5'6 is not petite.

Anyway, I was beyond ecstatic that that the fierce Miss Tyra decided to do makeovers in the very first episode. Makeovers, or "Ty-Overs" as they were called, are the absolute highlight of the entire ANTM season. This time around, I was shocked that there weren't more tears of despair shed - the only drama I spotted was the whole Bianca and the bleached eyebrows thing. Sweet pea, you have not one strand of hair on your head, and you're complaining about the shock factor of bleached brows? Come on now.

Then, we have Erin. Sweet little Erin who had beautiful golden brown hair - that is, until Sally Hershberger's team got their hands on her and bleached her hair until it couldn't be bleached no more. I suppose they were so pleased with the results that they gave Rae the same white-blonde treatment. I love the whole platinum look, but could never ever pull it off. My face would probably look green and I'd be in the salon every 4 days touching up my roots.

Other notable changes: Sundai's (I love her name, it reminds me of ice cream) weave went bye-bye, and she got a cute little Rihanna bob. Lulu went from hairless to weavetastic with her new blunt bangs and long, straight hair. Some of the underwhelming changes of the evening involved Nicole, Kara and Lisa. Boooring.

Sidenote: I'm so bummed that Jesus girl, Amber, went home early. Although I firmly believe she was deliberately planted in the premiere by producers, I would have liked to see her stick around for a few more shows because the girl was a loony bird.

Discuss!

enjoy an evening with Benefit!

And so NYFW has begun. Since I'm not one to follow high fashion (my income doesn't really allow for that), I like to follow beauty happenings instead. Check this out...(click invite to view the deets).

more liner notes...

So, the topic of lip liner came up yesterday. Lip liner! Someone had asked me if I've ever worn it. Um, only from 1996-2000, otherwise known  as my bleak years of beauty. I've seen better days for sure, but I'm not going to totally dismiss lip liner. After all, it was my color choice (Wet n Wild #666! Now I realize why it was so aptly named - it was truly the devil reincarnated into a pencil) and application technique that made me a beauty "don't" all those years. Why the liner lunacy? Selena. I remember trying to emulate her dark liner look because I was so obsessed with that movie. Unfortunately, what worked for her (and for J.Lo) didn't work for me. 

I abandoned lip liner for many years after that, and it wasn't until about a year ago that I realized its magical powers. Case in point: a nude or creamy pink lip liner filled in the lips and topped with lip balm gives a beautiful daytime lip look that lasts a few hours - much longer than any creamy lipstick or gloss would. I also like to do this when I wear a smoky eye at night. Then, there's red. A matte red pencil is BEAUTIFUL for getting that old Hollywood look (or new H-wood: think Gwen Stefani). But you're probably asking - why liner when you have a lipstick? When you're doing a red lip, precision is key - lipsticks are sometimes too runny, too thick, too creamy, and before you know it, lipstick is everywhere - teeth, chin, corners of the mouth, tip of the nose. Disaster. 

Here are some of my favorite lip liners:

NARS Jungle Red

NARS Salsa

MAC Whirl

Smashbox Palm Beach

No matter which you choose, remember the cardinal rule of lip liner - don't forget to fill!

liner notes

Eye liner can be very transformative in that it can take me from dead-looking to drop-dead gorge in seconds flat - even without a stitch of other makeup (true story). Thing is, perfecting liner can take YEARS - it wasn't until 2002 that I mastered lining my inner rims, which totally changed my life. There are tons of formulas and techniques to be learned, but what I'm about to tell you works like a charm every. single. time. To make it work for day, I stick to brown or deep copper shades, but for nighttime I'll go with plum, gunmetal, or black for a more intense look. But no matter which shade you pick, I promise it'll stay on all day and give you an amazing, non-smudgy, defined look, like Rachel Bilson here. This girl is like the queen of perfect eye liner. She ALWAYS gets it right.

1. Pick your color of choice, then get that shade in a waterproof pencil formula and a liquid formula (I like felt-tip ones the best because they're great for liner virgins AND pros).

2. Dust a taupe shadow all over your lids from lash line to right under your brow bone to even skin tone and give liner a good base to adhere to. I use MAC Omega for this, but it'll only work if your skin is fair or medium. If you're dark, pick something closer to your skintone.

3. Sharpen your pencil so that it's super pointy. The finer the point, the easier it is to be precise with your line. Now it's time to tightline - a trick that makeup artists have been using forever that I swear by for getting a professional look. First, apply the eyeliner right to the lash line, kind of like you're lining your lashes rather than your eyes. Many recommend even pushing it down into the line or even making little dots in between the lashes to get as close as possible. Hint: if you see a white space between the line and your lashes, you made a boo-boo - so start over! When finished tighlining, go over the line with your liquid liner pen to emphasize and darken the line even more.

4. Now, tightline the bottom lash lines starting at the inner corners. When you get to the outer corners, extend the pencil outward a bit, then smudge with a Q-tip to get a look like Rachel's. This will be a bit easier than the top, since you have a more flat, visible surface to work with. Just be careful and try not to jab yourself in the eye. Beauty may be pain (sometimes), but it isn't blindness.

5. Finish with two coats of mascara on top lashes only. I never was a big fan of mascara on the lower lashes for this look, since you want to keep smudging to a minimum. Definition is key.

Ta-da! You're done. Now, as with any dramatic eye look, go for a sheer dusting of blush and a light lip color.

DIY haircutting - a DI-don't?

According to a recent article from The Wall Street Journal, people have been chopping off their hair at home. I have impeccable control with scissors, so I've never been one to shy away from trimming my hair (especially the bangs) in mi casa. Perhaps my many years of watching people get haircuts was like visual practice for me, I don't know.

You may be wondering what would drive someone to the point of taking scissors to their own head. One reason might be that a trim in Manhattan costs as much as lunch for two weeks and quite frankly I'd rather have my lunch. How about convenience? I mean, who wants to wait a week for an appointment when the job can be done in your own bathroom in seconds? If you're like me and can skillfully cut a 1/2 inch off your ends, then I say, go for it.

On the other hand, you have people with major trust (or lackthereof) issues. You figure "I don't want some scissor-wielding FREAK coming at MY beautiful hair! Let me do it myself and it'll come out MUCH better." I dealt with this for many years and thankfully, got over it - there are tons of talented hairstylists in this city (the ones at Antonio Prieto, Julien Farel, and Pierre Michel make the top of my list). If you want a cut - and I mean a real, pretty, layered, quality cut that grows out stunningly and frames your features - you must drag yourself to a salon, just like I do twice per year.

Would you (or have you ever) cut your hair at home? Give me all your stories of triumph...or utter disaster!

terms of endearment

On my daily visit to BellaSugar yesterday, I came across an interesting post about being called cute, pretty, beautiful, or hot. Most of us have been called at least one of these at some point in our lives, but one of the four is probably used more than the others. I tend to hear "cute" a lot (due to my round-ish face and freckles) and I used to HATE it. Care Bears are cute. Yorkies are cute. I worked way too hard on my beauty routine to be called "cute".

But then, I realized that cute probably isn't a bad thing, especially when one gets older. I'm also in good company - think of all the so-called cute celebrities out there: Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel and little Lindsay Lohan circa the Mean Girls era. See? It's cute to be called cute.

I have to admit that "hot" isn't on my wishlist. In fact, I HATE hot. Hot is what you're called by construction workers when you're teetering down the street in high heels. Hot makes me feel...trashy.

But pretty or beautiful? More of that, please!

the pay-offs of being pale

I am so proud and impressed with myself. For the first time in my 26 years, I can safely say I did not get a "tan" this summer.

I read yesterday that we only got 3 sunny weekends in June, July, and August combined (that is beyond depressing), which obviously contributes to my tanlessness right now. But that's not the only contributing factor - I have been SO much more mindful of my skin's safety, even when just going outside for walks in the sun. And you know what? It shows - my skin is smoother, less blotchy, and most important, less leathery and aged-looking. This newfound skin glory is thanks to my favorite sunscreen right now: Kate Somerville Protect SPF 30 Sunscreen. Every day before going outside, I slather this on my chest and arms. It's non-sticky, non-greasy, non-chalky, non-everything-you-hate-in-a-sunscreen. I also love that it doesn't smell like sunscreen, because let's be honest here, who wants to smell like the beach when they're actually running errands in Manhattan? Grossest feeling ever.

Another star product participating in my anti-malignant melanoma plan is Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder SPF 30. The stuff is brilliant for former SPF-phobes like myself. You literally uncap it, brush it on your face (over makeup or under), and you're protected from the sun. It's so lightweight and feels like you're not wearing anything at all.

The downside to my newfound paleness is that I look like someone's albino sister in every photograph this summer. But I suppose it's a small price to pay for retaining my skin's youth for as long as possible. And not dying from skin cancer. Go me!

rando hair tip of the day

Last weekend, I was doing some errands when I strolled into Delacqua Salon in Brooklyn - a hair salon that also carries an amazing stock of high-end hair products (I also get my Essie and OPI nail polishes here) to pick up a new deep conditioning treatment for my newly colored strands. I chatted up a looong convo with the salon owner, Alex, about hair, coloring, damage - things I'm no stranger to, and he gave me this great tip: don't rinse conditioner completely like you would your shampoo. Instead, let the water run over your hair for a few seconds - leaving some "slip" in your hair will give it weight, preventing frizz and adding extra moisture. I've done this for the past week, and I must say that my hair is softer and not as fro-y as before.

If you're wondering which treatment I got that day, it was my beloved Kerastase Masquintense (for thick hair). Love, love, love...

Clinique's new vitamin C lip smoothies

After months of seeing ads for Clinique's newest addition - Vitamin C Lip Smoothies - I finally got to try them out yesterday. I love the concept of a "lip smoothie" since it evokes a feeling of sweet, juicy, healthy nourishment for your lips. Standing in front of the display of colors (there are 8 shades), I didn't know which to pick first. I decided that all of them looked really similar in their pinkish plum glory, so I decided to go with the lightest of the bunch, "Pink Me Up". Not a success - it looked like I had been either making out with the Pink Panther or was considering a new career in the adult film industry. Very frosty, very pink, just... no.

Next - Fig-A-Licious. Should be called Fig-a-Luscious because that's exactly how my lips looked after applying. I adored the color - it was like a slightly amplified version of my natural lip color and I could swear it made my lips look bigger (although the product doesn't claim to have plumping properties - maybe I was delusional).

What I don't like about this product is the click-pen packaging. Those things are so deceiving. You never know how much product you've got left, and I personally always end up overclicking too much product out, so it goes to waste. If that doesn't irk you, these are worth a try - pretty shades, and they last a pretty long time for a gloss, thanks to the thick texture.

Kim Kardashian's new venture

And now, for some Happy Friday fragrance news. According to WWD, Kim Kardashain (love her, and love Keeping Up With The Kardashians - one of my many guilty pleasures) is teaming up with Lighthouse Beauty to create a fragrance launching in Spring 2010. I'm a sucker for celeb fragrances - Britney, Halle, Mariah, Paris, yes, I've worn them all at some point - so I can't wait to smell this one. Kim says that the fragrance will "really capture who I am". I'm so curious to see what this concoction is going to smell like.

Until then, I'm DYING to get my hands on a bottle of Marc Jacobs LOLA. I'm stalking every Sephora in NYC for it!

a brand i adore

Sure, I spend quite a lot of time at Sephora, but sometimes I can't help browse the aisles of Target for my fix of Soap & Glory. Ever hear of it? Many of you Target enthusiasts might have - it's best known for its cute pink packaging and quirky, cool names, like "Clean On Me" and "Return To Slender" (brilliant). Not only do the play on words give me a good giggle, but the products themselves are GREAT. Come to think of it, I've never met a S&G product I didn't like. I should also mention that one of my most memorable events as a beauty editor was for a Soap & Glory launch where I got to meet Marcia Kilgore, the brains behind the brand (Marcia also started Bliss!). She was so sweet, and talked about the inspiration for naming the products, as well as why packaging is as important as the results the product delivers.

And now, for a few of my personal favorites from the line:

1. Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss: A VERY slight tingle lets you know it's plumping, and the sublte peachy/pink shade leaves lips looking juicy. And with a name like that, how could you not love it?

2. Slimwear Body Cream: Did this eliminate cellulite? I freakin' wish! I could, however, see a major difference in the smoothness of my skin after slathering this on my arms and legs. I also love the minty, cool feeling it leaves behind. I swear by this in the summertime because it's so refreshing.

3. Easy Glistening Body Spray: Oh my GOD, I love this spray. Smells clean and yummy (like cocoa butter mixed with a slight fruity smell) and leaves my limbs all glowy and sexy-looking. Another plus is that it gives a subtle sheen without making you look sweaty or like a greased pig.

Next time you're in good ol' Tar-jay, pick some of this stuff up. You'll like!

would you wear red eyeliner?

Red and eyeliner aren't two words that most people would put together in a sentence but I'm seriously considering MAC Foxy Lady as my next purchase. Rumor has it, this frosty cranberry shade looks phenomenal on blue or green eyes and really makes them pop. Bummer for me I have hazel, but I'm willing to try anyway. I'm getting so tired of my usual brown-for-daytime, black-for-nighttime liner routine.

This is definitely a try-before-you-buy shade - that said, I am now off to the MAC store. Fingers crossed that I don't come out looking like I have pink eye...

how to not look dead tired

No matter how much shut-eye I get, I always look exhausted, thanks to my dark circles (damn genetics!) and attractive fine lines that are starting to form. This is why I've become quite the master of making myself look alive and rested with makeup. With a little dab here, a sweep there, you'll be bright eyed in minutes:

1. Moisture is KEY: Hydration is so important, because it makes your makeup go on nice and smoothly. I love Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum. It might just be an optical illusion (no pun intended) but I swear my dark circles are getting lighter by using this stuff.

2. Invest in your concealer: It's a recession, we're all broke - I know. But concealer is super important, and the great ones tend to be high-end. You need a peach or yellow based (not pink) shade, and it's gotta be thick but not too creamy, otherwise it'll come off. Make Up For Ever concealer is my fav because it's matte and stays on, uh, forever.

3. Pick shadow wisely: With eye makeup, less is actually more when trying to look awake. Brush a shimmery taupe eyeshadow on your entire lid, then highlight the inner corners with a very shimmery peach shade - NARS Bohemian Gold is gorge for this. Dip a Q-tip into the shimmery peach color and swipe along your lower lash line. Skip eyeliner, curl your lashes, and apply two coats of mascara.

rando hair tip of the day

Ever try to curl your hair with a curling iron, only to be left with weird ridges or bends where the clamp meets the barrel? Solution: instead of wrapping hair around the barrel, then clamping down, keep the clamp closed the whole time and simply wrap your hair around the clamp and the barrel. The end result is a more flow-y, natural wave. Much better!

the best reds

Call it a lipstick kick if you will, but I'm really into red lips lately. BRIGHT stop sign red. Unfortunately, the right red is really hard to find - especially for me, since I have lips that turn everything hot pink.

Even if you don't share my fair-medium, freckled complexion, these shades might work for you as well, since they're neutral, true reds, meaning they're neither too warm (orange-y) or too cool (blue-ish). Here are my top three, so you don't have to scour Sephora with 30 shades of red on your hands like I did:

1. NARS Red Lizard
2. Laura Mercier Truly Red
3. YSL Rouge Pur Opium Red 131 (can't bring myself to spend $35 on this, but I still love)

Another benefit of getting a true red is that it'll make your teeth look REALLY white. See how nice Katy's color is? (ignore the crazy long lashes, which I don't love with the lips...but that's crazy Katy for you.)

beauty lessons from YouTube

I was skimming through the ginormous September issue of ELLE when I came across an interesting little story that I have to share with you guys because it was so life-changing and fabulous. Girls on Film (pg. 362 for those who have an issue handy) highlights four of the best beauty lessons on YouTube. I myself have always been doubtful of these YouTube how-tos. I mean, who are these people and what do they know about makeup and hair?

Clearly, the answer is a freakin' LOT. Two of these videos recently taught me how to do things I've wanted to learn for years. YEARS, people. The first is creating that glamorous A. Jolie cat eye with liquid liner, and the other is making mermaid waves using a flat iron.

Check them out:

Sarah Victor "Cat Eyeliner" - http://www.youtube.com/user/SarahVictor#play/search/0/ff6O-nlPv_c

Lindy Tsang "Mermaid Waves" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szYycW64fU4

Love these gals!

inappropriate salon signage

Seriously?

This is a real sign that lives in a local nail salon. Yes, that's right - I was so humored by this that I took a picture. Perhaps waxing school didn't teach these folks the correct body part terminology. I'm just sayin. 

the highs and lows of highlights

I've had a rough two months. Actually, my hair has had a rough two months. I get bored very easily, and have always felt as if coloring my hair would make things a little more exciting. Part of me feels that with every foil, every bottle, every drip of hairdye, I'm changing myself for the better. Shallow, perhaps, but I like to think of it this way: your hair is an outfit you have to wear EVERY DAY. You need to love it. Feel good with it. It has to flatter your face and fit your personality - if it doesn't, you feel like something is...off. It's impossible to be in a good mood with bad hair.

Ok, so all of that said, my hair has seen quite a few colors this summer. After doing the box thing for months, I decided to haul my cheap self into a salon and get REAL color. Sure, it was expensive and time-consuming, but the colorist had to undo months of crappy color that I had inflicted on myself. Salon #1: took 5 hours and hundreds of dollars, but the redness of Natural Instincts Spiced Tea was officially gone.

Back to medium brunette. Now what? I felt boring. I felt like I blended in. I felt blah and unattractive. Highlights were calling my name. I spent a week scouting out inspirationalyet realistic pictures from magazines and Victoria's Secret catalogs. Time for salon #2 (I'm a salon whore - rarely go to the same one twice). Armed with pictures of Shenae Grimes - who, by the way, I think might be 15 years old but has unbelievably gorge hair - I told my colorist I wanted soft caramel or honey highlights for an overall lighter look. An hour later, I sat there with fine stripes of Big Bird yellow throughout my hair. Another day, another color screw-up. F me.

Instead of buying a box to conceal my streaks, I decided not to be stupid. I went about my daily business and waited for them to somehow blend together and look half decent. They never did. That's when I called Cutler, a NYC salon I read a lot about on CitySearch, to once and for all, give me a decent head of highlights. Prices weren't too extreme, but the reviews were glowing, so I knew this would be a good match for me. My colorist here miraculously made me much lighter - a feat no other colorist has attempted successfully - however, my hair was flirting more with the strawberry/reddish blonde family than the light honey brown one. 

I was only half happy with the results. Look, my skin is pink. I'm slightly freckled. Combine the two and essentially, my hair matched my skin, which is not a pretty picture. Again, I waited it out and hoped the color would "grow on me" because, let's face it, it was a big change, but it wasn't necessarily an ugly color. However, the turning point for me happened yesterday at around 2PM on a sunny Brooklyn street, as I was going about my daily business.

A-hole, early 20s: Hey, sexy!

Me: (no response)

A-hole, early 20s: Yo, redhead, over here!

Me: (no response. getting annoyed. Is he making fun of me?)

A-hole, early 20s: Hey, firecrotch, I'm TALKIN to you!

It was at that point I re-routed to the nearest CVS and bought myself the ashiest damn boxcolor I could find in an attempt to get rid of all evidence I might indeed be a firecrotch (I cringe as I type that). I knew that Natural Instincts, being a semi-permanent color, washes out in 24 shampoos, and tends to not produce a dramatic color like other dyes would, so I grabbed a box in Tweed, a light ash brown. After ten minutes, the magic potion transformed my light copper highlights into a less, uh, attention-getting light brown. I'm not as light as I would have liked to be, so I'm heading back to the store to pick up some Prell today - the stuff works wonders for fading too-dark haircolor. 

Will I ever be 100% happy with my haircolor? Doubtful, seeing as how I'm this color chameleon. But at this point in my life, all I want is to a) not look like Big Bird, b) not look like a zebra, and c)not be called firecrotch. I don' t think that's too much to ask. 

steals at bath & body works

I try to refrain from going into BBW because I can easily spend in there until my wallet is empty. I mean, that place has everything. I go in there looking for a lotion, I come back with gallons of shower gel. It's just not good.

I ventured in there today promising that I would for ONCE exercise some self-control. I needed a new spray-on self tanner and so that's what I'd leave with. That didn't quite work, due to the fact there were HUGE BLUE signs EVERYWHERE announcing "buy 2 get 2 free" and 75% off sales. Ten minutes and $35 dollars later, I was the proud owner of:

3 Solar Power Spray Tan cans
I'm In The Mood For Scrub
3 itsy bitsty shower gels that I can take with me on vacation next week

See? BBW understands that even in a recession, people need to cleanse and exfoliate and tan cheaply. As far as the products go, I will certaintly be reporting back on the status of my skin color after application. If I'm orange, I will be selling my 79 new cans of tanner for $3 apiece to whoever is interested.

twilight-like lips

I've read the book, seen the movie, but wasn't that impressed with the story. I was, however, intrigued by the blood-colored lips of Robert Pattinson. For the entire 6 hours of the movie (can you tell I wasn't that crazy about it?) I sat in awe of what the makeup artist might have used to get that crimson-stained pucker.

Luckily, I can now turn to DuWop Lip Venom V - a brand new Twilight-inspired lip plumper that turns your pout the same color as Cullen's. You ALL know I'm a sucker (no pun intended) for anything that'll redden my lips without having to wear thick lipstick or goopy gloss, so this excites me. Plus, I'm a diehard fan of the original Lip Venom, so I'm sure this will be another winner.

If you're interested, these are available for pre-order at shop.duwop.com and will ship on July 1.

what's your signature scent?

I'm sad to think about the money I've spent on perfumes in my entire lifetime because it's probably as much as a two-week long Mediterranean cruise. Why the insanity? Because I'd smell something on a friend, fall in love with the scent, and go buy my very own bottle. Now, most of them are gathering dust on my shelves, because they never quite meshed well with my skin.

However, there are a select few (The Chosen Ones) that I keep going back to again and again. Year after year, season after season. They seem to never make me headache-y or nauseous, and I've come to associate them with smelling pretty, not perfumey. First on the list: Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey. I first fell in love with this when I was 16 and on a duty-free shop in JFK airport. I begged my mom to buy it for me because it smelled grown up but not old ladyish. I still wear it to this day. Another one that's always in my rotation is Ralph Lauren Romance. An oldie, yes, but a GOODIE. I got this for Christmas when I was around 15 and I'm on my fourth bottle (not bad, considering I rarely repurchase perfume, let alone finish an entire bottle!). Something about it makes me feel calm, at ease, and yes, a little romantic. I also love how it's appropriate for day or night, whether I'm at work or out to a fancy dinner.

If there's one thing I've learned about perfumes, it's that what works for one might not work for all. For example, a friend wears Burberry Brit SO well, but for me? I always manage to smell cheap and cloying when I spray it on. Such a shame, since it's a classic...

wedding makeup

In approximately 1 year and 11 months, I will be facing the most important decision of my life (and taking the most important pictures, to boot) - how to wear my makeup for my wedding.

Only days after he popped the question did I start thinking (and worrying) about the look I wanted on my wedding day. I can honestly say I've NEVER thought about it before (why should I? That would be weird.) I might not know exactly what I want yet, but I do know what I do NOT want. Here we go:

1. Pink eye shadow

2. Overly bronzed skin

3. Ultra-glossy lips

4. Too-dewy skin (doesn't translate well in pics)

5. To look like wedding day Barbie

I always believed you should look like the prettiest version of yourself on your wedding day. I want to look at my pictures 10, 15, 40 years from now and recognize myself - without having to look past layers of makeup and huge false lashes. Besides, I think the family would much more appreciate me looking like a sweet, beautiful, glowing princess than Jill, the Bridal Drag Queen.

Anyway, I found this pic of Leighton Meester. I like this look. It's pretty, girly, not too made-up, but not "I just rolled out of bed". This could work for my W-day. Thoughts?

free fro-yo

Because I feel that happiness makes you feel even more beautiful, I thought it'd share this delicious bit of news:

PINKBERRY is giving out free treats this Friday, 6.26, from 5-9PM.

That's all.

got circles? try this

I've never had really problem skin (as in, no major acne) but I typically like to cover up certain things here and there. Case in point - my ridiculously dark, annoying, stubborn under-eye circles. Quite frankly, circles suck. Puffiness, though, is easily cured by a good night's sleep, ample hydration, and eating a low-salt diet.

When I found out that under-eye circles are hereditary, my reaction was twofold. I felt relieved to know that whole "sleep for 12 hours" myth would get rid of them (I'm plagued by insomnia at least 3 nights per week), but I was mad that nothing I could do would make them go away for good.

And that's where a REALLY amazing concealer comes in. Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer is by far the most life-changing thing to grace my makeup stash. It erases every tinge of darkness under the eyes, is oil-free, and doesn't come off by the end of the day - even in the heat and humidity of a NYC summer. I like to think that if I had to invent an under-eye concealer, this would be it.

When I went to pick up my shade (#10) at Sephora, I noticed that it was sold out - along with many other shades, too. A sales rep told me that it's slowly being phased out to make way for the line's new HD concealers, and that I could pick it up at the Make Up For Ever store (they have everything!). I'm excited to try the new ones, but only if they're on par with the old.

This is a must-try, ladies. It's like the concealer gods have finally answered my prayers!

sexy summer skin from a bottle

If there’s one thing that screams summer beauty to me, it’s suntanned, glowing, sunscreen-scented skin. The tan part is easy (a little self-tanner here, a little there, and I’m good to go), but the glowing, sunscreen-scented part? Not really.

Now, since I’m not a big fan of slathering Coppertone on my entire body every single day, I had to scout another beauty product that would provide that beachy scent when I wasn’t, um, actually at the beach. And that’s where NARS Monoi Body Glow II comes in. I’m already a big fan of NARS’ original Body Glow, but I hated the way the bronze color rubbed off on my light-colored clothing. Monoi Body Glow II is clear and contains real Monoi de Tahiti oil to impart a healthy-looking, non-greasy (YES!) sheen to the skin while lightly scenting it with Tahitian gardenia and coconut extract. Even the BOTTLE looks all vacation-y.

Word to the wise: apply a very light layer to exposed areas only. Don’t use this as a full-body moisturizer because you’ll go through it in a week and the stuff ain’t cheap (it's $60). Stick to a non-scented body lotion on areas you can’t see, and go crazy with the oil on exposed arms, legs, shoulders, and décolleté.

awesome eye shadow alert

Quick post for all of you looking for a fantabulous new eye shadow. MAC Eye Shadow in Antiqued is a pearly brownish bronze that has proved quite the compliment-getter this week. The bf (now the soon-to-be hubby) thought my hazel eyes looked much greener than usual when I wore it, and a few people at work loved it too.

Try it!

Toenail TMI ... don't judge me

I wear fake toenails. There, I said it. Now before you dismiss this as gross and utterly ridiculous, please hear me out. I have a very valid reason for wearing prosthetic toenails.

Two years ago I developed a love for running. Did it every day until my legs could run no more. Unfortunately, I also had this insane desire to make my size-9 feet look smaller than they are, so I stuffed them into an 8.5 sneaker. Bad idea. Within months, Mr. Big Toe on right foot turned black and blue, fell off, and never quite grew back the same. This is fine and dandy in the winter months, but come summertime I want my toenails to be evenly aligned just like everyone else’s.

Enter falsies. I know at some point or another you’ve browsed the nailcare aisle at the drugstore, passed the fake French toenails, and wondered, “Who on EARTH would wear fake French toenails?” ME. I would. I kind of like the fact they're French, because the light color allows me to easily paint over in any color of my choice (brights, darks, you name it). I’m fairly certain I’m the only one keeping this product in business and I fear they’ll be discontinued in the near future.

So, there you have my most embarrassing beauty confession. What’s yours?

P.S.: I once knew a guy who requested self-tanner poured into unmarked bottles so his friends wouldn’t give him crap for getting his tan in a can. I think that beats fake toenails.

what would your career in beauty be?

Hair stylist, colorist to the stars, aesthetician, perfumer...these are all very cool jobs in the beauty industry. I often thought long and hard about what beauty career I would take on if I could, and I've always had the same wish: to be a celebrity makeup artist.

Back in junior high I got a hold of my mom's makeup stash and went to town on my face. Pencils, mascara, lipsticks and glosses - you name it, I used it. Unfortunately, I decided to be experimental on 8th-grade picture day and the results were clownish. Black smudgy eyeliner, red glossy lips, rosy cheeks and...shiver...undone brows. Sure, I looked like hell, but I remember how fun it was to transform from bare-faced to all done up. Over the years, I was able to master the perfect smoky eye and how to do my own brows, and when I got to college, I was known as the dorm makeup artist. If the girls planned a night out, they'd rely on me to do their faces. It's like my brushes were my little magic wands, and in my hands I held the secret to their hotness.
Not only was that a rush, but collecting makeup was another (expensive) hobby I developed. I wanted my stash to look like a makeup artists' trunk and by senior year, it did.

So, there you have my beauty profession obsession. I once knew a girl who wanted to be a manicurist but with that comes pedicures, too. I don't think I have the stomach for that.

What would be your pick?

perfect skin in a tube

As I write this, I'm sitting here with a green, hardening film over my face. Yup, it's mask night. I love a good mask (the right one can make you look like you just got a $200 facial) but then there are those that just make you wish you could get back those 10 minutes of your life you spent in hiding covered in gunk. 

The one I'm wearing now is by far my most favorite mask of all time. Yes, Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Treatment wins the award for the most skin-changing of all face treatments I've tried, and I've used quite a few. I'll start off my saying that I don't really have problem skin...I don't detest it. But sometimes, I get angry with it (don't we all?). My T-zone insists on getting oily mid-day. I always had those little black dots on my nose. I had some rather large pores scattered around my face. Are you getting the pretty picture yet? My dear Fresh mask corrects all of that, but without drying out my skin like other masks tend to do. The details: the product isn't cheap, but I've decided it's worth shelling out the money for my face since everyone has to look at it ALL the time. It's a thick, grayish-green clay that you apply to damp skin and let dry for about 10 minutes (I'm on minute 8 now, and the tightening of the mask is making it hurt to smile. Making progress!). When you rinse, you're left with less visible, much cleaner pores. It's kind of like a vacuum for your skin - it sucks everything out and leaves it smooth and clean. 

Also, since I'm a girl that likes proof of this sucking-up-dirt-and-oil action, it's great that you can actually SEE little spots of oil as the mask is drying. What can I say, I like instant gratification (although, I'll admit it's not NEARLY as fascinating as holding a used Biore pore strip up to a lamp. Gross yet very awesome.)

It's summer - 'tis the season to remove nasty stuff from pores!

my favorite lotions

I'll admit, I can be very lazy when it comes to applying lotion. When I get out of the shower, all I want to do is get dressed and go about my business. But lotion is really a wonderful thing, especially in the summer months - it moisturizes, gives skin a glow, makes self-tanner last longer (always a plus in my book), and leaves a lingering yet subtle scent that lasts all day. Although I don't religiously apply the stuff, I always feel more pampered and my skin looks 100x better when I do.

Since there are 40 kajillion lotions out there, how do you know which to choose? Lotion is a very personal preference - you have to consider consistency, fragrance, level of moisturization, etc. to find the perfect one. Hopefully, this list will guide you to a new fave:

1. Fresh Sugar Lychee Body Lotion ($28): I first tried this stuff at a Hollywood hotel and felt like I really was giving my skin the star treatment when I slathered it on. It's thick (you only need a little bit on each limb) but non-greasy, and it's the perfect scent for someone who wants to smell deliciously sweet but not like vanilla frosting (since I like to EAT cake, not smell like it). Pricey, yes, but it's like heaven for your skin.

2. Jergens Original Scent Cherry-Almond Moisturizer ($6): When I use this, I feel like I'm back in 1989 in my grandparents' Jersey Shore house. It was the only lotion they had, so I had no choice but to use it. Now? It sits among 30 other lotions in my house and I keep going back to it for it's sweet, nutty, notalgic scent. It's a medium-weight lotion, non-greasy, and the huge bottle lasts forever. One of my all-time drugstore faves.

3. Aveeno Creamy Moisturizing Oil ($7): How I heart Aveeno. This is a brand that realizes girls with sensitive skin want to smell like something (fragrance-free bores me). This clean, fresh-smelling lotion feels so lightweight on the skin, making it a summer staple. Another plus is that it gives the same moisture-locking benefits of a body oil but in a lotion form. When I use for a week, I notice that my skin is in better condition than before. Miraculous.

4. Korres Body Milk ($15): Both scents of this lotion that I've tried seem to have disappeared off of Planet Earth (Coriander and Mint Tea), but that's alright. Why? Because every single Korres product I've tried has really wowed me and I'm sure their other scents are just as lovely. This is the lightest weight lotion I've ever tried, which makes it ideal for really hot summer days when you want the BARE minimum on your skin. It actually sinks into the skin rather than laying on top of it, but it manages to moisturize as well as a heavier formula. Next on my to-buy list is the Fig scent.

Anyone with me on any of these? What are your favorites?

Maybelline's new mascara venture

Months ago, Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto took the drugstore mascara market by storm. Now, the brand has created vibrating mascara - the latest in eyelash trends - to really shake things up.

This July, Define-a-Lash Pulse Perfection will make its debut and be the first of its kind to hit the drugstore market. The battery-powered mascara delivers an impressive 7,000 vibrations per minute and the movement of the wand mimics the back-and-forth method that makeup artists swear by for ultimate volume and length.

Hm. I've seen vibrating mascaras before, but I haven't been intrigued enough to purchase. I like to control my mascara and I'm not sure if I want something battery-powered that close to my eyes. But hey, if it produces gorgeous results, the risk of damaging my corneas for amazing eyelashes might be one I'll have to take.

my beauty products take a hike

I went hiking this weekend, and in the days leading up to my journey, I was nervous. I don't often go outdoors without makeup or smooth, groomed hair so the thought of me in the woods with nothing but a fanny pack full of granola bars, sunscreen, and a map put me in a mini state of panic. I had two options: leave fanny pack as is, bring Chapstick, and grin and bare the fugliness that would appear in pictures OR bring the my usual touch-up kit which includes lip balm, lip gloss, eyeliner, MAC blot powder, mini comb, hand sanitizer, hair ties, and oil-blotting sheets and risk losing it all on the Appalachian Trail. Against my will, I chose the former.

You know what? It wasn't all that bad. I was having so much fun being "one with nature" I didn't notice that my hair was frizzy, my face shiny, and my lips colorless. Besides, I decided in the end it would have looked a million times more ridiculous if, there I was, standing amongst the trees and bugs with a face full of makeup and perfectly "done" hair.

Have you ever been in a situation that required you to give up your usual beauty routine? One place that gets me squeamish every year is the beach. The whole sand-in-face and knotty, salt water hair look never really worked for me, but I guess it all comes down to this: if you're having fun, who cares what you look like?

my real haircolor makes its debut

A funny thing happened this weekend. I was standing in the sun at a lovely Memorial Day BBQ and my dear boyfriend noticed an interesting thing happening on top of my head - the hair there was lighter than the rest and- knowing I'm a dyeaholic - wanted to know if I changed the color AGAIN. Interesting. Not a single drop of permanent dye has touched my hair since last September, so I did the math in my head and realized the color he was looking at was, in fact, au naturel. What he said next was music to my ears: "I really like it."


This is monumental. I haven't seen my natural hair color since I was 17, so I was positive it was half gray by now (it's not). Truth is, the color staring back at me was quite nice. I would describe it as a medium golden brown with subtle red highlights and for now, it's a keeper. It looks good with my skintone and eyebrows (as it should!) and I figure just saying NO to dye this summer will make my hair nice and healthy.

That said, I'll share an interesting tidbit: many hair colorists advise bringing in a photo from when you were 6 or 7 years old to find your perfect, most flattering grown-up shade. No more ripping pages out of magazines for me - I'll just revisit mom's old photo albums....

summer-proof your look

Ah, Memorial Day weekend - quite possibly my favorite time of the entire year. It's the kickoff of another summer (yay!) and which means it's only going to get hotter from here (finally!). I'm definitely a fan of warm temps, but along with this high heat comes that feeling we know all too well - melting makeup. Seriously, how frustrating is it when you spend time perfecting your look in your air-conditioned bedroom only to step outside be shiny and sweaty within minutes?

Luckily, there are quite a few tips and tricks to keep in mind to avoid this. I won't tell you not to wear makeup (um, and risk looking bad in summer pictures? I think not.) but I will tell you to apply with a light hand. If there's one thing to remember, it's this: the less makeup that's on, the less makeup that can melt off. And then there's always everyone's favorite beauty equation: oil + excess dirt + sweat + bacteria = breakouts!

Issue #1: Sweaty, Shiny Skin

First thing's first, ladies: oil-free is your friend. Would you leave the house with Crisco slathered on your face? I certainly hope not. If you use oil-containing foundation, moisturizer, or concealer, please stop and switch to an oil-free version to beat the greasies. All skin types produce more oil and moisture in humid, hot climates. Get an oil-controlling foundation (Clinique Work Out Makeup All Day Wear is a good summer pick) and add a drop of sweat-proof sunblock to it - you'll stay matte all day and get sun protection at the same time. 

Issue #2: Smeared Eye Makeup

Smoky, messy eye makeup at midnight is hot. At noon? Not so much. To avoid looking like someone colored over your eyes with a black Crayola crayon, just say no to kohl. I love kohl eyeliners (hint: a lot of pencil liners are kohl) because they allow me to smudge the lines and get a sexy, undone eye look. This is precisely what you want to AVOID in the summer because it just translates to unpolished mess. Go for a water-proof gel eyeliner instead- it won't budge until you take it off (Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner is unbelieveable, not too pricey, and will last forever. I also love the wide range of fun shades). Stick to powder formulas for eye shadow and make sure lids are makeup-free and dry before applying. Apply your regular mascara as usual, then add a coat of waterproof on top of it. H20-proof mascaras tend to dry out my lashes, so this trick prevents runny mascara but keeps lashes conditioned.

Issue #2: Messy Lipcolor

Stash away those creamy, opaque lipsticks for the cooler weather and go for a lip stain instead. It'll give your lips a pretty, juicy, tinted look that lasts for hours (Pixi Lip Blush in Purity - at Target gives me a nudish-pink tint that I'm obsessed with). Top it with lip balm for shine and moisture, since lip stains tend to be drying.

Issue #3: Melting Bronzer and Blush

Look for bronzers or blush that don't sit on top of your skin - it'll do a slip-and-slide act on your face in minutes - but tint your skin instead. Apply a facial self tanner before bed and you'll wake up looking like Casper's sexy Brazilian cousin rather than the pasty ghost himself (Jergens Natural Glow for Face is one I recommend to everyone, with no complaints so far). Complement your new "tan" with a pop of color on the cheeks. Avoid powders (they clump) and creams (they smear) and go for sheer cheek stains instead (Pop Beauty Apples Of The Cheeks is adorable and works like a charm). 

shampoo switch-up

I've read time and time again that hair doesn't get "immune" to shampoo if you use the same one all the time. But, if it seems like your fave shampoo isn't impressing your tresses as much as it used to, it's likely that you've got some product buildup going on. Yes, just like you exfoliate your face, you need to exfoliate your hair so that it's healthy, bouncy, and shiny.

The main problem that I've encountered with clarifying formulas is that they dry the HECK out of my already dry hair. I sometimes feel like they're made for a load of dirty laundry rather than human hair. I once used a deep cleansing shampoo that I swear could take grime off a minivan if they used the stuff at the car wash. I do not need that frustration, people.

I had to do something because, deep down, I knew that my string of bad hair days stemmed from my overuse of my ultra-moisturizing shampoo. Great for fighting frizz, but it also makes my hair limp after a while. Enter my little miracle (literally, it was travel-sized): Burt's Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo. I lathered up with this stuff this morning and now I'm having my best hair day in weeks. My hair is shiny, voluminous but not pouffy, and feels conditioned and soft. The magical ingredient here is grapefruit oil, which has intense cleansing properties but doesn't strip the hair of moisture. It also contains coconut and sunflower oils and soy protein to keep hair strong and shiny. Lastly, I absolutely adore the natural, fresh scent and how soothing it felt on my scalp as I massaged it in. I don't think I've been this impressed by a shampoo in quite a while.

I know where my next $8 is going - to the full sized bottle!

best.bronzer.ever.

Bronzers can be cruel sometimes. Some are too shimmery, too dark, too light, too "muddy" looking, and so on. I had just about given up hope on finding the perfect powder to give me that just-right tan color when I tried this one by Too Faced. Chocolate Soleil is, by far, the best bronzer that has ever crossed my pale cheeks. For starters, it smells like chocolate because it has real cocoa powder in it. I know you're probably sitting there thinking, why on EARTH would I want my face to smell like chocolate? Well, I thought the same thing when I was introduced to this at a Too Faced event last year. BUT, you only get that cocoa whiff when you apply it and maybe for about a minute after it's on your face. Kind of made me feel like I was brushing Swiss Miss hot cocoa powder on my face, but I love that stuff so it worked out.

Now, on to the color. This is a great bronzer for fair to medium skintones because you can apply a little bit to get a teeny tiny bit darker (great for getting rid of that pasty, ghost-like shade) or you can apply a few layers to get a deeper color that matches the rest of your faux-tanned body. Walking around with a pale face and sunkissed limbs is kind of scary. I'm all for pale, but if you're gonna go white, go white all over. Another thing to love about Chocolate Soleil: it's completely, totally, utterly MATTE. Thank the lord for creating a matte bronzer that isn't the color of quicksand, because I was so over those. Dare I say it, this stuff actually makes me look like I was tanned by the real sun. No shimmer, no glitter, no orange color whatsoever.

There you have it - my glowing review of Too Faced Chocolate Soleil - the bronzer for those who hate bronzers and love chocolate.

beauty junkies: how do you store your makeup?

So, I have this 4-foot tower of plastic drawers and compartments that I keep my makeup in - I call it The Tower of Beauty. In the past, The Tower has served me well, keeping my glosses separated from my shadows separated from my brushes. But today, it failed me. I made the mistake of overstuffing the top drawers and opening them, which led to the complete and utter DESTRUCTION of The Tower. When you're getting ready for work and your face is half "done", the last thing you want is hundreds of beauty products at your feet. My makeup is now sitting on my bedroom floor, homeless.

During my morning commute, I was thinking of a new storage strategy for my beauty goods. I realized that a new Tower probably won't cut it. After all, my stash only grows by the week. Do I designate one-fourth of my living room to my makeup? Do I unplug my fridge and store it all in there? Surely, there's got to be a way to organize my crap that doesn't involve buying a huge trunk and throwing it all in. Maybe I just need to stop buying makeup. HAHA. No.

This is where my plea for help comes in: does anyone out there with an insane amount of cosmetics have a brilliant suggestion for me? Maybe I'll write a letter to Sephora, begging them to make version of their train case that's 10x bigger than the original.

brows that wow with RAMY

You may have heard of the Hollywood eyebrow guru named RAMY. Yes, he's plucked and shaped many a celebrity brow and now he can makeover yours: RAMYSPA in NYC's Murray Hill is hosting "Brow-nanza" every Thursday night this summer, so you can walk in and have your brows done by the R-man himself for a discounted price. Oh yeah, there's champagne and sweets involved, too. I don't know what makes me happier - getting groomed or filling my tummy with a little bubbly and some sugar. Considering the normal price of Ramy's services is $75 and you don't get fed, the combo of both is a pretty sweet deal.

I've had the personal pleasure of getting my brows tamed by RAMY and I must say, I had the most attractive 3 weeks of my life afterwards. It looked like I had a facelift - my eyes looked bigger and more almond-shaped, my face slimmer, my cheekbones higher. He also transformed them from their usual ashy-brown sparseness to a more noticeable color to complement my hair. The man is a brow GOD.

Have fun!

RAMYSPA

39 East 31st Street

New York, NY 10016P

Phone: 212-684-9500

my sevin nyne experience

When I first heard that Lindsay Lohan was making her own self-tanner line, I swore I wouldn't buy it, especially for a small fortune of $35. I also wasn't feeling the strange spelling of "Seven Nine". But alas, being a sucker for interesting store displays and packaging, I caved in and bought my very own can of Sevin Nyne at Sephora yesterday. Bye-bye, lunch money for 4 days.

I was immediately roped in by the cool-looking black and pink packaging and the tall box that the tanner comes in. This is a far cry from the usual bronze-y, tan, gold-type packaging we usually see in the self-tanner market. Props to Lohan (or her people) for being creative in that respect. I was SO excited to try this - I love self-tanning mists because it makes me feel like I'm getting it done by a pro. And they're pretty hard to screw up.

After misting myself with half the canister's contents, I was almost asphyxiated by the fumes. At that point I decided that I had applied enough to give me a golden glow. First off, this stuff smells great. If I had to pick anything to be suffocated by, it would absolutely be the pleasant floral-coconut scent of Sevin Nyne. I waited and waited for the gross DHA smell that is inevitable with every tanner application but it never came. That was AWESOME.

And now, for the color (or lackthereof) part. Look, I am pale. Ghostly freakin' white. I was preparing to wake up brown or orange or burnt sienna or SOMETHING but I was transformed to an unimpressive pale peach. I'd take a picture and show you guys, but really, there'd be nothing to see. What did I do wrong? I certainly applied enough. I didn't want to give myself another coat because I'd probably use up the rest of the can.

I'm a bit disappointed in this product. It has it's pros, of course, but the product's intention is to make you TAN, and that didn't happen. Hey, maybe that explains this:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/04/02/2009-04-02_lindsay_lohan_using_fake_bake_spraytanne.html

Back to the drawing board to find the perfect self-tanning mist.

april showers bring may...showers

I think all my NYC girls out there will agree with me when I express utter disgust at this rainy, humid weather we've gotten for what seems like the past three weeks. The upside to this insanity is that it has given me ample time to perfect my HWFS (Humid Weather Frizz Strategy) for 2009. My 2008 plan involved a ponytail and a headband and I'm desperate not to go that route ever again. Cute when you're 10, not 25.

Anyway, keeping my good old 'fro tame takes time and effort, no doubt, but with some snazzy new tools, techniques, and products, my styling efforts LAST. Dear friends, what's worse than slaving over your hair, just to step outside and have it pouf up in minutes? Nada.

First thing's first: If possible, blow-dry your hair at night. Sleeping on your blow-out will smooth it even more. Plus, did you know that humidity is highest in the early morning? Another reason that blow-drying before your AM commute is not a wise idea.

1. Non pouffy hair, believe it or not, begins in the steamiest place known to (wo)man - the shower. Start with a creamy, thick moisturizing shampoo, like L'Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Shampoo. Steer clear of clear formulas, as these tend to have a clarifying effect on the hair and remove oils, which are essential in this whole bye-bye frizz project. Don't be afraid to deep condition every time you shampoo, but remember to apply to middle and ends of hair (not roots). The more weight and moisture you can give your hair, the better.

2. Squeeze excess water from hair and apply a quarter-sized dollop of hair straightening product. I love Redken Blown Away 09 Blow-Dry Gel because it protects hair from the heat of your dryer. It also has enough control to fight frizz all day but keep hair soft, not stiff.

3. Get a good brush. None of that plastic bristle paddle brush nonsense - that's for detangling. Invest (or don't - drugstore is fine) in a boar-bristle brush to better pull your hair taut while blow-drying and better distribute oils through your hair.

4. Blow-dry in small sections. You might have heard to separate hair in four sections ("quadrants") but think that 6-8 works better. It's much easier to smooth a small section of hair than a huge chunk of it. When you're done with each section, blast it with cold air from your dryer to seal the cuticle and add shine. Cold air is frizz's worst enemy.

5. If absolutely necessary, run a flat iron over your hair. I like to refrain from doing this every day because it leads to more dryness which, in turn, leads to more frizz. It's a vicious cycle!

6. Finish with this genius combo of shine serum (John Frieda Frizz Ease is a classic favorite) and light-hold hairspray. Apply a pea-sized amount of serum (again, avoid roots), and spray all over. The serum works to smooth the hair and add shine, while the spray holds the straightness in place, if you will.

I wish all of you the best of frizz-fighting luck. Remember: if all else fails, you can always try this:

http://tinyurl.com/bbsofj

Here's to a summer of good hair days!

longing for long hair?

For the greater portion of my life, I've been "letting my hair grow". I've always been so envious of girls who can grow their hair what seems like 5 inches per month (not humanly possible, but you get what I'm saying), when I'm sitting here refraining from haircuts for a year and seemingly not getting ANYWHERE. I even once considered taking pills to stimulate hair follicle growth, promising waist-long hair in a matter of weeks. Usually, when something sounds too good to be true, it is.

Two days ago, I was sitting in my mom's apartment when she expressed shock at how long my hair was getting. Then, a day later at brunch, a friend asked, "Is that your REAL hair?" Keep in mind that in the past, I've had clip-in hair extensions as well as Great Lengths "bonds" that cost as much as a trip to Hawaii. Still paying them off.

Anyway, people were noticing how long my hair was getting - it's officially down to my mid-back, sitting happily near the clasp of my bra - and as soon as I finished doing my little happy dance, I thought long and hard about how my long hair dream became a reality. 

First, I stopped bleaching the hell out of my hair. Ever notice how people with hair lightened much lighter than their natural color NEVER have really long hair? Bleach = breakage. Keep your hair close to your real hair color and you'll be able to grow it out - simple as that.

Second, I cut way back on flat ironing my hair. Heat styling at high temperatures equals - you guessed it - more breakage. If you must use that straightener, keep it at the lowest temp that will deliver results - for most people with fine or medium textured hair, it's in the 250-300 range. Get that arrow OFF 410, people. 

Lastly, I began to use the right product for my hair. My go-to shampoo and conditioner is Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Don't let the name fool you - PBL is not like fertilizer for your head. It does NOT make your hair grow faster, but it is a huge help when you're trying to grow it out. It has worked wonders at strengthening my hair and preventing breakage. And although I'm a beauty junkie, I used to hate using hair product. That has changed - I now make sure to use a heat protecting cream on the middle to ends of my hair before every single blow-dry session. Kerastase Nectar Thermique is un.be.lieve.a.ble. My wallet always cringes when I utter the K-word, but seriously, the stuff is like gold for my hair. The good news is that a little - I'm talking a dime-sized amount - goes a long way, so you'll have the tube forever.

best of drugstore beauty - makeup

Drugstore makeup aisles can be overwhelming, so I've compiled this nifty little list as a guide. I've spent entirely too many hours of my life standing there with an eye shadow in each hand just guessing which would be the better one - I don't want you to have to do the same.

Drumroll, please...

Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous Volume Building Mascara - No one will EVER be able to tell this isn't DiorShow. I'm shocked (actually, I shouldn't be) at how many makeup artists have this in their kits. 

Blush: Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Blush in Natural Apricot - This is the drugstore equivalent of NARS Orgasm, and it works on all skin tones. Love the slight sheen it gives cheeks.

Bronzer: Milani Sunset Duos Blush and Bronzer in Sunset Strip- It's genius of Milani to put blush and bronzer in the same compact, since I like to mix the two anyway for the most naturally sunkissed look. Plus, I love how all of Milani's shades are richly pigmented so you can use less product each time. There's also a range of shades, so you can go light if you're fair, darker if you're olive or tan. 

Foundation: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse - Many will argue that Maybelline's forte is mascara, but I beg to differ. Almost every foundation they've ever made is amazing, and this new one is my favorite to date because it's lightweight and lets skin breathe, but offers great coverage.

Eye Liner (Pencil):  Cover Girl Outlast Smoothwear All-Day Liner - It doesn't tug your skin, stays on all day, and comes in a nice variety of shades so you can be practical with black or have fun with indigo. Did I also mention that the self-sharpening aspect is my favorite quality in an eye pencil?

Eye Liner (Liquid):  Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Liner - CG again, girls. This is liquid liner for dummies (that would be me). With it's felt tip, drawing a straight line is not impossible, and the formula lasts pretty much all day. I love.

Eye Shadow:  Almay Intense I-Color Shadow - These little personalized shadow trios are, in my opinion, the coolest thing that Almay has ever made. Available for blue, green, hazel, and brown eyes, these take the guesswork out of finding a shade that makes your eyes pop. The colors are more vibrant than other drugstore ones, so you won't have to apply 80 layers to see the shades on your skin. 

Luminizer: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminator - Yeah, it's dirt cheap, but have you ever noticed that most drugstore brands are lacking in the luminizer department? Wet n Wild actually has one, and it adds an impressive sheen to cheekbones and makes them seem 

sky-high.

Lip Color: Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain - This gives my lips a pretty berry tint (my favorite shade is Sassy Mauve), lasts all day, and lets my lips' natural texture show through. This is great for everyone who hates the feeling of lipstick but wants a bit more color than cherry chapstick can deliver - possibly my favorite drugstore buy of 2009 so far.

Lip Gloss: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss - Go here for my glowing review: 

http://jill-hellobeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/03/most-perfect-gloss.html

calling all model wannabes

Ladies - if you consider yourself hot stuff and are free this Saturday, May 2, head on over to this casting call for Make Up For Ever (LOVE THEM). They're looking for 25 women with a good attitude and great skin. The lucky 25 selected will get all sorts of goodies, plus be featured in the brand's ad campaign.

Here are the deets:

Open Real Person Casting Call
Date: Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Location: 8 East 12th Street, NYC
Time: 11am – 7pm
Please arrive with a clean face, no make up.
This is a non- union affiliated production. Sorry, no SAG or AFTRA talent please.

25 women will be selected to have their photos featured in the ad campaign and will receive $250 and a make up kit with a retail value of $250.

5 of those 25 will then be chosen to be featured in an online advertising video and will receive an additional $250 and another $250 in make up.

All applicants must be available for photo shoots and videos in the Manhattan area on the following dates:
- Friday, May 8th, 2009 – photo shoot
- Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 – video shoot

To reserve a time slot at the casting call, please email your first and last name and preferred time slot to rsvp@makeupforeverusa.com.
Choice of 11am-1pm; 1pm-3pm; 3pm-5pm; or 5pm-7pm.

If selected, you will be asked to sign a standard talent release. No one under the age of 18 will be considered.

heidi's hair

I'm not Heidi Montag's biggest fan, but I have to admit - her wedding waves were absolutely BEAUTIFUL. She reminded me a little of Barbie and, not that I ever aspire to LOOK like Barbie, I was dying to have hair like this.

I thought about how to actually achieve these waves, and after many attempts at curling my hair with my usual 1'' curling iron, I realized I needed something different. The 1'' iron works like a charm for getting waves of the Kate Hudson, Ashley Olsen variety, but for Heidi waves, I had to break out the monster. The monster is this massive, 2'' barrel curling iron that I've kept hidden in my closet for about a year because I never really needed to use it. Now was the time.

I plugged in the monster and proceeded curl the middle to ends of my hair. A little trick for the most face-flattering waves: always wrap your hair around the iron in the direction AWAY from your face (see the front pieces of Heidi's hair - very Farrah Fawcett-y, but in a 2009 sort of way). Another thing about the monster is that it tends to work best on long hair. Because the barrel is so big, you may have trouble wrapping your hair all the way around it if your hair is shoulder-length or shorter.

You can buy your very own monster at Folica.com. Here's mine: http://www.folica.com/Hot_Tools_Profe_d1012.html

Don't forget to finish with a light-hold hairspray. Anything stronger will leave you looking like a beauty pageant queen.