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.