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.

best of drugstore beauty - HAIR

And here we go... part one of drugstore bests. Enjoy!

• Shampoo for Normal or Dry Hair - Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo


• Conditioner for Normal or Dry Hair: Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner
  
• Shampoo for Fine Hair: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Full Splendor Shampoo


• Conditioner for Fine Hair: Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Conditioner


• Treatment for Dry or Damaged Hair: It's a tie! Garnier Fructis Strength & Repair Fortifying Deep Conditioner (best if you have breakage); Aussie DEEEEP 3-Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment (good if your hair is just really thirsty)


• Leave-in Conditioner: Aussie Leave-In Creme


• Straightening Product: Charles Worthington Dream Hair Flawless Finish Straightening Balm
  
• Hairspray: Dove Extra Hold Hairspray


• Heat Protectant: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum

• Hair Color: Clairol Natural Instincts
  
• Best Smelling Shampoo/Conditioner: It's a tie! Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner; L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
  
• Wave-Enhancer: Sally Hershberger Supreme Head Wave Spray

the best of drugstore beauty

As much as I love Sephora and the makeup counters at Bloomies and Saks, my wallet does not. I've also been finding it more and more convenient and budget-friendly to just pop into CVS or Duane Reade to get what I need and get the heck out.

But aside from all of that, there are some DS products that are really freakin' GOOD. They WORK. There are products that continue to wow me, even though I'm constantly trying/testing the more expensive "luxury" stuff. And if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, "what's the best drugstore ______", I'd probably be writing this from a $10 million apartment in Tribeca.

That said, I've decided to do a Best of Drugstore Beauty compilation in several installments:

1. HAIR CARE
2. MAKEUP
3. SKIN CARE
4. BODY
5. MISC. (tools, nail care, etc.)

Each day, I'll be writing about the best of the best in each category. Keep in mind that not all products are brand spankin' new - sometimes, the oldies really are the goodies. If you're wondering who the panel of judges are, well, it's just me. I've tried almost every single product on these shelves at some point in my 25 years, and have also incorporated suggestions from makeup artists, hair stylists, and other beauty gurus.

Enjoy! Let me know in the comments section if there's a DS product that YOU swear by ...

orange crush

From the looks of the weekend weather forecast, spring will be in full swing (uh, it's about time), giving me the perfect opportunity to put my pedicured toes on display. 

I'm excited to revisit my favorite summer shade in my collection - Essie Tangerine. It's fun and punchy enough to wear for daytime, and sexy and bright at night with a pair of sexy strappy sandals - ahh, sandals. Anyway, what I love about Tangerine is that it's a deep orange-y coral that miraculously flatters fair skin (hi, that's me right now) and tan skin (me in three months), making it my go-to toenail shade from May through September. I'm also getting quite bored of my current color rotation -  if I had to paint my toes with the same old goth plum or ballerina pink I think they'd detach themselves and stab me. Change is good.

Not a coral kind of girl?  Allow me to suggest another punchy yet not-as-bright Essie shade that I LOVE - Big Spender. Disclaimer: It's not your typical wimpy sheer pink - it's an opaque pink-violet that also works on pale AND dark girls. I wouldn't go near this bottle in the winter, but it's perfection in the warmer weather. 

Time to grab my trusty Ped Egg and lacquer up....

a friday perk at sephora

Just a little announcement for now: stroll in to Sephora Union Square this Friday from 12-6pm and get a free makeover from Benefit. You don't have to make an appointment, but they are recommended so you don't have to wait a gazillion years.

Is there a better way to spend a sunny, warm Friday afternoon than with a stroke of Georgia on your cheeks? I think not...

Sephora Union Square

45 East 17th Street

212. 995.8833

face time

There have been times in my life - specifically, college - when I didn't exactly treat my skin as nicely as I do now. To ward off the occasional zit, I'd use harsh cleansers to wash my dry, sensitive skin. I went tanning a few times a week, a habit that I not only regret but I'm embarrassed to admit. And, my diet, late nights and drinking habits made my skin look dull and my undereye area look like puffy little marshmallows.

Since then, I've also started doing something that would seem pretty obvious, but took me SO many years to get used to - using skincare products that are meant for my skin type. Do you realize how many women out there don't do this? I mean, why on Earth was I using Proactiv's three-step program on my acne-less face? I switched to a gentle cream cleanser and my skin was instantly happier. Another thing that I do now is take my makeup off before bed, no matter how tired I am. It takes a minute or two but the skin benefits are huge. Snoozing with makeup on is kind of gross, anyway - your face is pushed up against your pillow, which forces dirt, oil, and bacteria back into your pores. If you do this on a regular basis, breakouts will follow. Been there, done that. Besides, who wants to wake up to a dirty pillowcase?

That said, here are some dry/sensitive skin favorites that I swear by (all are highly recommended for all of you who share my skin type):

1. Pur-lisse Pur-delicate Gentle Soymilk Cleanser: Yes, it's $38, but the bottle is huge, the product smells unbelieveable (sort of herbal, which I like), and it takes off my stubborn eye makeup every single time. My skin feels very clean but not stripped of moisture - I'll take every bit I can! - after I use it.

2. Fresh Sugar Face Polish: You know how some celebrities have that I-just-got-a-facial-glow, even when they aren't wearing makeup? This stuff does that for me. It's an exfoliator with real crushed strawberries and Vitamin C (yay for antioxidants) that I use once a week to leave my skin skin smooth and flake-free. Another thing to love? My skin doesn't look beet red and scrubbed within an inch of its life whenever I use it.

3. Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes: We used to hoard packets of these things back at the magazine. Why? Because a good facial wipe is hard to come by -these smell divine (not too perfume-y) and take off every stitch of makeup, which makes them perfect for those nights when I'm too tired to turn on the faucet and lather up. You'll notice that they're made for oily/combo skin, but I actually find them quite gentle, in comparison to other makeup remover wipes I've used.

4. Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Lotion: This is my all-time favorite daytime facial moisturizer. It has SPF 15 and is completely oil-free, so I don't look like a greasy mess by 11am. It's also lightweight so I can wear it under makeup and NOT feel like my face is being suffocated. I really hate when that happens. Since I tend to splurge on other skincare products (as you can see), it helps that this is cheap and at good ol' Duane Reade - high quality for a low price always puts a smile on my face.

how to use texturizing sprays

I've posted quite a bit about hair texturizing sprays lately, and it seems like a few of you are interested in trying it. Well, you'd be crazy not to - hot hair in 3 minutes and I'd be sold, too. 

The glory of these sprays is that you can use them on wet or dry hair. However, I like to use them on dry, second or third day hair (a.k.a. hair that hasn't been washed in that long) because when I use the sprays, I really do have to wash my hair the very next day. If you plan on using it on wet hair, be prepared to have to wash your hair again 24 hours later.

I first use a 1 1/2-inch curling iron to create waves around my whole head. Then, I comb out the waves with my fingers and lightly pull each wave to loosen them. Next, I spritz my texturizing spray around my whole head, keeping the bottle around 6 inches from my hair. At first, it may seem like you're wetting your hair and all of your curling efforts are going to waste. Not so - in a minute or two, the spray dries and creates a piece-y, completely unfrizzy look (trust me on this one). No need to comb your hair or add any other product. 

Voila! Sexy hair ...

wanna be in a magazine? of course you do!

Ladies - major news. O, The Oprah Magazine, is conducting a casting call for an upcoming shoot called "Beauty Rehab". They're on the hunt for those of you who are stuck in a beauty rut (we've all been there) and need a change.

The categories are:
1. Beach blondes who want a more natural color
2. Ladies who tan and are craving a more natural skin tone
3. Those with SUPER long hair that want a cut
4. People who wear heavy makeup and want to tone it down

If any of these are screaming your name, and you live in the NYC area, email your name, age, contact info, and recent photo to Alicia Bridgewater at abridgewater@hearst.com.

Fun!

ali larter's new bangs

Me likey!

Is it just me or is everyone getting bangs these days? The newest celeb to chop is Ali Larter and, as expected, I totally love this. The new fringe makes her look younger (not that she needs it) and it gives her overall hairstyle some oomph.

Yet another successful bang chop in Hollywood... is anyone inspired to do the same?

my hair dryer, dead and gone

Major drama about an hour ago. Just as I started drying the right side of my fro hair, my hair dryer started smoking. SMOKING and making CRACKLY noises. Do you know how scary that is?

I shouldn't be in shock; the thing just celebrated its second birthday not too long ago, and that's, like 10 in hair dryer years. I don't think it died from abuse (I treated that darn thing like GOLD - I only dropped it around three times) - it was probably more like old age. Poor thing.

After I realized how lucky I was that it didn't burst into flames, I had another crisis on my hands (or should I say on my head): my half-dried hair. It was only a matter of minutes before it would start acting up, so I had to think fast. I remember packing away a spare dryer somewhere in my apartment and had to track it down (ladies, there will come a day where your current dryer kicks the bucket and you'll need another. Avoid catastrophe and GET ONE PLEASE.) After minutes of looking, I found it behind some Cheerios boxes in my kitchen cabinet. I didn't know it then, but I had found my savior: The Hot Tools Tourmaline Tools Ionic Hair Dryer. 

I plugged the sucker in and proceeded to style. Four words: I AM IN LOVE. It's everything a dryer should be: lightweight, semi-quiet, dries fast, controls frizz, numerous temp settings. My hair looks great and I want this thing to last forever.

I'll miss my old, dead dryer but seriously, something amazing came out of this situation. If you want to get your hands on the same Hot Tools dryer (pictured here), try beautydeals.net. It's on sale for $65 now and I haven't seen it anywhere else!

this eye trick will change your life

So, I remember the very first time I lined the inner rims of my lower lash lines with black eyeliner. What I remember even more is how I looked in a picture of me with this new application technique. My eyes looked about half their size and even closer together than they are naturally. Not a good look for me.

Fast forward 8 years and I now know the trick to making eyes look amazing - and, surprise, surprise, it is NOT dark eyeliner underneath my eyes.

No matter what your eye color is, light beige shimmery eyeliner works wonders when applied near your lower lash lines. You'll look rested and your eyes will pop right off your face (in a good way). Now, you've probably heard to try white, but I find that beige gives a less shocking effect. Need a liner rec? Of course you do - when was the last time you saw a light beige eyeliner? Shiseido Eyeliner Pencil Duo in Desert Dusk is THE perfect one. One side is a rich, golden brown and the other is a pale, shimmery beige. I typically use the brown on my upper lashlines and the beige on my lower, but for a more intense effect at night I'll apply the brown on the bottom as well and then draw over it with the beige. While I'm at it, I also use the lighter liner to draw a sideways V near my tear ducts.

You're very welcome.

balms away

Lip balm - two words that instantly put a smile on my face. It's more moisturizing than most glosses, and feels better than lipstick. It's also kissing-friendly, which is a plus in my book.

I'll admit that while I do have cherry Chapstick falling out of every purse and jacket pocket that I own, there are a few others that make my lips really, REALLY happy. Here, I present to you Jill's favorite balms of all time:

1. La Mer The Lip Balm - I have a hard time accepting the price of this stuff ($45) but, ladies, let's put this in perspective. This balm works miracles, and you actually use it less during the day because it prevents future dryness and damage as it moisturizes your pout. It's very luxurious, and I love the sleek little tin it comes in. Mine lasted an incredible 4 months, and you all know that I'm a balmaholic. Impressive.

2. Too Faced Love Lisa Luxury Lip Balm SPF 15- It's official - this is the CUTEST item to enter my makeup stash in years. Obviously, I love that this stuff has SPF 15 because as you all (should) know, one of the most common places for Mr. Melanoma to pop up is the lips. And with almond oil and apricot kernel oil, it tastes delish.

3. Rosebud Perfume Co. Strawberry Lip Balm - I'll be honest here, I don't love the original Rosebud Salve, even though it's a cult favorite, celebs use it, yada yada yada. This strawberry balm, however, is much better suited for lips, since it's ultra-moisturizing and tastes so sweet. It also leaves a subtle pink sheen on your lips.

4. Nivea A Kiss of Flavor Cherry Tinted Lip Care - Ok, I like to call this my balmstick because with it's bright pinkish-red color, it borders on being a lipstick. When I use it, I swipe it on from the tube then pat some off with my fingers to get the prettiest stain. I've gotten quite a few compliments on this lately, so it's gotta be a winner.

Happy balm shopping!

brazilian beauties

There's no doubt that when it comes to beauty, Brazilians are clearly doing something right. Whether they're all genetically blessed or simply using the right beauty products, I'll never know. Combination of both, perhaps.

Anyway, Victoria's Secret - a.k.a. the brand of the crazy gorgeous Brazilian supermodels - now has a new, limited edition makeup, hair care, and body care collection called Beauty of Brazil. I was intrigued by these tropical-inspired beauty products - would they make me more

Brazilianized? There was only one way to find out. I stocked up on a couple new things this weekend and fell in love with these two winners: Bare Bronze Beach Hair Texturizing Spray and Bare Bronze Sand + Surf Body Polish.

You all know about my new obsession with salt sprays that texturize hair. Beach Hair is the best I've tried, probably because of the sweet, creamy, Brazil nut scent and its ability to transform my polished curling iron curls into tousled, wind-blown, straight-from-the-VS-catalog loose waves.

Then we have Sand + Surf. Again, that delicious scent of Brazil nut filled my steamy bathroom as I applied this in my shower. The scrub has very fine grains of sand to slough away dry skin (perfect pre-self tanner). It also has acai extract, and unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard about acai's antioxidant properties. I don't know exactly what the acai did for me right away, but I do know that my arms and legs felt as smooth and soft as a baby's butt afterwards.

The line as a whole succeeds in giving off that sultry, tropical, Brazilian vibe and is perfect for summer. Even though it's barely 55 degrees here in NYC, I look and feel like I'm ready for the beach.

the new generation of hair accessories

When I think "hair accessories", visions of long banana clips and neon scrunchies come to mind. I used to collect these things, you know. At a flea market near my family's Jersey Shore summer house, they were five for $1 and came in more colors than a 64-count box of Crayola crayons - an 8-year-old's dream.

Then, in high school I was obsessed with those bra strap headbands (wasn't everyone?). Again, had to have one in every. single. color. 

Hair accessories have come a long way since then. Aside from my trusty Goody Ouchless hair ties that I use at the gym, I don't have much else aside from a plain black headband in my stash right now. Lately, I've spotted some adorable hair accessories at Urban Outfitters, like the clip pictured here. It's cute, unique, and definitely makes a statement but it's not too overwhelming and huge (it's not like you're putting a bird on your head, for all you SATC fans). Think of it like a little piece of jewelry for your hair - something to make your overall look a little more fabulous. 

This clip comes in a few different colors and I've noticed that hints of white, beige, or silver look best in dark hair, while the light brunette or blonde models from the UO website tend to look great in dark or vivid colors like purple and blue. I guess it's all about contrast. Also, you don't want to look like your own head is sprouting feathers in the same color as your hair. That would just be weird.

Let me know if you agree or if you think I've lost my mind and this is a totally hideous trend...

image: urbanoutfitters.com

a tip on tipping

Happy Wednesday. I wanted to quickly share a fascinating piece of info that I spotted in the May issue of Marie Claire (which is amazing, by the way) from NYC hairstylist Patrick Melville. Did you know that if you're getting you hair cut or colored with the salon owner, you do NOT have to tip him? In the past, I've seen dozens of salon owners for hair services and I've always tipped - VERY generously.

I have to be honest, I would feel a little funny not leaving a tip. Even though it's standard practice and understood among salon owners, I'd just feel like a cheapo. I guess this is something I'll have to get used to.

In case you're wondering, you should still tip the ladies and gents who wash and dry your hair - $5-$10 is plenty, according to the MC article.

hair care gone bad

Let's chat about a topic I'm sure you've all wondered about at some point or another. You probably have noticed the plethora of high-end hair products at Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Walmart or even your supermarket. Have you ever actually bought one? I have. In college, I bought a Kerastase shampoo at CVS because it was convenient and I wanted to spend my hard-earned babysitting money on something luxurious. I didn't know it then, but I was buying a top-quality brand in a store that was unauthorized to sell it.

So, what does this mean? Whenever you go to the drugstore and see professional brands like Bumble and bumble, Kerastase, Matrix, Redken, Biolage, etc, lining the haircare aisles, it's likely they're counterfeit, diluted, stolen, contaminated, and/or expired. Ew.

The official term for this is diversion. Diversion, believe it or not, is a huge issue in the professional haircare industry and an equally troublesome problem for consumers. Think about it - you're paying FULL PRICE (yep, sadly, this is true) for a salon product that could potentially be dangerous and/or make your hair look like crap. And guess what? Every time you buy one of these, your cash isn't going to support your fave brand.

Someone I worked with once told me a story about a high-end, professional detangling spray she bought from a drugstore that left her hair so knotty that her strands literally felt glued together. I think cutting a portion of her hair off was also part of the story. Eek - sounds like she got a drugstore dud.

So, ladies and gents, next time you're in the market for some top-notch, pro hair products, head to a salon (they're authorized to sell them) or purchase directly from the brand's website. You'll be doing your hair a favor.

glow big or glow home

A little quiz for you: you have only 1.5 minutes to do your makeup. What do you apply?

I was in this unpleasant situation today - pressed for time and sitting in front of my mirror in a blank state of mind, not knowing what the heck to do with my Monday morning face. I decided it would be best to look alive and awake. That's always a good thing.

Whenever I want to brighten my face and look like I've slept for a full 8 hours when I clearly have not, I reach for highlighter. Highlighters are freakin' brilliant and here's why: they magically transform a tired face into rested-looking, glowing perfection in a matter of seconds. Highlighters (a.k.a. luminizers) come in all formulas - from powder to liquid to stick-form - but my current favorite highlighter is Benefit That Gal. Now, the packaging says it's a "brightening face primer", and I'm sure it works just peachy for that purpose. However, I get shiny mid-day, so I keep this on my cheekbones only. 

That Gal is a light pink lotion with teeny tiny light reflectors that make your cheekbones look radiant and healthy - like they popped right off of J.Lo's face circa 2002. Very enviable, indeed. The packaging looks like a glue stick but hey, should you bring this everywhere with you, product leakage into your favorite bag is impossible. Genius. 

I suspect this stuff would work for fair to medium skintones, but if you're olive-skinned or darker, go for something warm and golden. NARS The Multiple in St. Barts - a shimmery tan - is the perfect glow-giver for you. 

Oh, and if you're wondering, my 1.5 minute makeup routine also included some navy eyeliner, a coat of mascara, and cherry Chapstick. 

 

bar soap or body wash?

Which do you prefer? 

I've noticed that people generally fall into two categories: bar soap users or body wash users. I'll go through stages where I'll be obsessed with using body wash, then completely abandon them for months and use bar soap only. I'll confess that right now, I'm totally in a bar soap stage. Even though body washes make me feel a little more luxurious, there's nothing quite like using bar of soap to take me back to my childhood. My mom used to buy white unscented Dove soap for my ultra sensitive skin when I was a kid, but my nose has been trained to love fragranced stuff now. That said, I went and bought the economy sized pack of my favorite bar soap ever - Caress Daily Silk - today at the drugstore. I felt kind of pathetic at how excited I was to rip open the plastic and place that huge orange-colored block of soap in my shower. The only thing that gets me more excited than new soap is new toothpaste - makes me want to brush my teeth 10 times a day. I'm not sure that that's normal, but whatever.

See? Beauty snob I'm not. Drugstore loot makes me extremely happy. Time to hit the showers...

Stila, R.I.P.?

Well ladies, even makeup isn't bullet-proof from this horrific economy. 

Rumor has it, cosmetics company Stila has gone bankrupt. BellaSugar.com reported that their e-commerce site is not only shut down for maintenance, but all orders placed on March 23 and 24 might be cancelled. When workers arrived at offices late this week, they were closed and people were told to go home. Yikes.

If this is true, I'm deeply saddened by this tremendous loss to the beauty world. What will I do without Kitten eyeshadow, their juicy lip glosses, and those adorable Convertible Color compacts? 

I guess there's a silver lining here - insane Stila sales at Sephora in the future!

hopeless hair? try this...

Ladies, picture this disaster: 98% humidity and hair that has been through a sweaty workout and hasn't been washed in three days. If it sounds disgusting and unattractive, well, it really was.

I thought my greasy roots and dry, frizzy ends were unable to be salvaged or whipped into something half decent. I had 20 minutes to get ready to go to a bar last night - not nearly enough time to shampoo, condition, and blow-dry. I had to resort to other measures. 

As I nervously fished through my selection of hair concoctions I found something I forgot I had: Bumble and bumble Surf Spray. I took it home from the beauty closet one day because it's a hairstylist and celeb favorite, but never knew what to do with it. Well, last night was the night to experiment. There wasn't even a chance I could "mess up" because my hair couldn't look any worse.

I sprayed this all over but kept it away from my roots, then I twirled and twisted random pieces. Miraculously, I was left with those sexy, ropy waves. When I first sprayed it on, it was almost a little greasy but then it dries and felt like I spent an entire day at the beach in the salt water (surfing, I suppose). No frizz, no grease - just wavy, pretty perfection.  

So, my hair looked BETTER last night than it does when it's freshly washed. This is MAJOR - you all know how much I detest spending time on my hair.  

Thank you, Surf Spray, for giving my pathetic, gross mop an instant makeover!

wear sunscreen. please?

In a perfect world, we'd all wear sunscreen 24/7/365 to proctect ourselves from the sun's harmful rays. But alas, the world is not perfect and neither are we. I'm only 25, but the truth is, my skin could pass for 33. It just isn't as smooth and even-toned and flawless as I'd like it to be, and it's probably because I spent a good portion of my fair-skinned life burning on the beach and in tanning beds.

I don't know how much of this damage is reversible (probably not much) but what I DO know is that it's not too late to prevent my skin from looking even crappier in the future. I don't want to look like a wrinkled, blotchy, sagging mess in a few years and that's clearly the direction in which I'm headed. I'm also realizing that age doesn't make you invincible to skin cancer - dermatologists have been seeing a rise in melanomas in people under the age of 30. Scares the hell out of me.

A lot of you might want to hurt me for sounding like a sunblock Nazi right now but getting a "real" tan is simply not worth it in my opinion. You might be wondering about sacrificing precious Vitamin D - well, your body only needs about 10 minutes of sunlight twice a week to receive adequate amounts of Vitamin D from the sun's UVB rays. Those 20 minutes are my free pass to go without sunscreen, but the rest of the time I like to be covered.

Does this mean I slather on globs of chalky, thick SPF 75 every morning? Heck no. I've been using SPF without even realizing it. After my morning shower, I apply Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 15. It's the same stuff as the regular Aveeno lotion I know and love, plus sun protection. Very shmart of them. On my face, I 've been using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer which actually has SPF 20 in it. While these two winners won't keep me fully protected on a day at the beach - they aren't waterproof or sweatproof - they'll suffice during my long, daytime walks in the spring months.

at-home hair dye success

My apologies for being MIA the past few days. I'm sure you'll all be entertained by the fact that I dyed my hair in my bathroom on Monday night. I decided a few months ago that I was boycotting box colors but as you can see, that didn't last too long.

I used to be married to Garnier but had quick, regrettable affairs with L'Oreal Excellence, Preference, Colorsilk, and Clairol Hydrience. This time I picked Clairol Natural Instincts. I was hesitant at first because NI is NOT a permanent hair color - it's semi-permanent, which means it washes out in 28 shampoos - and I thought I'd be wasting my time. On the bright side, if I didn't love the color, I'd simply wash my hair 28 times in a row and voila, it never happened.

I've been itching to go back to red forever. I've decided that blonde is totally not doable for my skintone, black makes me look like a washed-out witch, and brown is just boring (as you can see I'm so against having the haircolor god intended me to have - oh well). So I picked up NI in Spiced Cider (see picture), which they call "light warm brown". I knew full well that the stuff wouldn't lighten my hair, so I wasn't at all disappointed with the very subtle change. The dye simply reddened my blonde highlights (which made them blend nicely) and made my overall color appear much warmer. I was so impressed at how rich the color is and how soft and shiny my hair looks! If you're looking to darken too-light highlights, gradually go from blonde back to brown, or add warmth to your color, NI is your new best friend.

I have to say, this is my most successful at-home color job to date. Why? Because I wasn't expecting a dramatic change. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I am pleased with the results.