tiltzybeauty

back to basics

2010-03-08T14:53:00.003-05:00

there's not many products that i am loyal to; it's a big world out there with a lot of products, but when i find those winners, i hold on tight. usually. i'd been using philosophy's purity made simple for years and then for some reason, i decided to try something new. i'm not even sure why. maybe i got bored; maybe like a wayward lover i was looking for something better only to discover that it doesn't exist. so after three other cleansers, two of which i didn't even use all the way through, i'm back and on my hands and knees begging for forgiveness.

this is simply the best, pure and simple.

it removes all traces of regular makeup and eye makeup, doesn't burn or irritate if it gets in my eyes and doesn't leave my face feeling dry. i love this and won't ever switch again. i should stick with what i know--and love.

concealer update

2009-04-27T10:04:00.004-05:00

i just can't bring myself to spend $70 on concealer (even though i am still dying to try the cle de peau). so when my precious T. Leclerc concealer pens were exhausted, i tried to find something a little more within my budget. i had been using Rimmel for a little while--and of course i was loving that and then one day wasn't loving it anymore. i think i got tired of using two products; also, after a while, i felt like it was too dry under my eyes. i moved on to Natural FX Water Based Foundation SPF 15. i'd heard and read a lot about this stuff online and when i saw a makeup artist at sephora applying it on women in the store, i thought why not. it's foundation--i never touch the stuff--that can also be used as a concealer. and as usual, i was loving it and then one day wasn't loving it anymore. at the beginning, i felt like it covered my dark circles perfectly and then after a while, i noticed the darkness creeping in again. so i moved on again--call me the concealer gypsy--to Prescriptives Site Unseen Brightening Concealer. today was the first day, first application, and i thought it covered pretty well. my only gripe: it's a twist pen and sometimes there is a bit of a product overflow so i feel like it can waste a lot of product. however, i was happy with the coverage so let's see how long the love affair lasts.

you don't have to be rihanna to love this--and look great!

2008-12-30T11:16:00.004-05:00

random saturday afternoons spent at target can be so fulfilling--plus there are always the unexpected treasures you discover! i saw this new fave--cover girl exact eyelights eye-brightening mascara--while flipping through a magazine and thought darn, that rihanna looks cool, i should get some of this stuff. of course, i am no rihanna--and am very happy with my current mascara, but clearly advertising and marketing are very effective on me! so as soon as i saw it in the aisle at target, i snatched it up--and it has replaced my current fave. there was a brief period where i thought i lost it too--and after i went a little crazy looking for it, i was about to repurchase, but luckily it turned up!

when i first opened it, i didnt even notice the hint of metallic, but it really does "enhance" my eyes--and it reaches every lash and defines. even better? it doesnt clump or flake off!

2008-10-05T19:07:00.002-05:00

i've made no secret of my girl crush on jennifer garner--i absolutely adore her. i think she is gorgeous and adorable and perfect in every way. so when one of my favorite beauty sites--totalbeauty.com--sent an email how i could recreate jennifer garner's makeup, i was ridiculously thrilled. no really, i was. i've spent a lot of time googling her lipstick, to disappointing results. i have only come up on one, which is a chanel that i, coincidentally, already owned (we're soul mates, hee!). it's a light pink color, but she is normally photographed in brighter pinks, which i love and that is what i am looking for. of course, all the tips were helpful--glowing skin and warm lips and eyes. trouble is, i still dont look like jennifer garner.

see how to recreate her look here

http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/package/p_jennifergarner?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=daily31&utm_campaign=daily31_jennifergarner

more reason to blush

2008-10-05T17:57:00.005-05:00

i love nars, i especially love nars blushes. cream, powder, bring it on. as much as i get annoyed every time i open any magazine's best of beauty issue and see a rave for orgasm blush, i have gone through more than my share of this product. i think i just get annoyed at the repetitiveness, but at the same time, it's an amazing color. amazing. it's everyone's favorite. i think it's K's favorite--i am pretty sure that every time i see her, she is wearing it.

so when i saw on the sephora site that there is a new version of this called super orgasm, i immediately headed to my local to check it out in person to see the brand could improve upon perfection.

i think we have 2 winners!

2008-10-04T12:10:00.004-05:00

i've whined and moaned about my dark circles forever. two purplish, sometimes bluish, half-moon circles--and no matter how much sleep i get, they are a permanent fixture on my face.

i've tried almost everything to conceal them. usually they are covered for about 10-1/2 minutes and like the bad guy in every horror movie, they always find a way to come back.

lately, i'd even resorted to using powder to cover them, which is a terrible, terrible mistake because powder always looks like powder: dry, which makes them look worse. but it seemed powder's consistency lasted the longest.

i was about to give up.

then i literally stumbled upon t. leclerc fluid concealer at barney's nyc. first, i apply the banane and the follow up with the orchidee--yes, they are that bad i need two! the banane acts like corrector, which neutralizes the lovely blueish purple that always makes me look like i went two rounds with the heavyweight champion and the orchidee is the finishing touch. enhanced with silicone and vitamin e, these glide on smooth and soft as silk.

i dont think so...

2008-09-16T15:35:00.003-05:00

one of my favorite beauty sites is totalbeauty.com--it's so informative. however, yesterday i was looking at the fall 2008 beauty trends and i was a little bit shocked to see that black lips and yellow eye shadow were two of them.

i have a huge problem with this.

black lipstick isnt going to look good on anyone--ok, maybe on the runway because of the amazing lighting tricks, clothes and the fact that a professional applied it and probably did something to it. black lipstick on its own, on a real person, in the daylight isnt going to look good. i keep seeing this month's magazines hawking black lipstick and i think this is terrible. i repeat, black lipstick isnt going to look good on anyone. it's harsh, it's dense and it's going to look muddy. just say no to black lipstick.

yellow eyeshadow? REALLY? REALLY? REALLY? now, i love me some colored eyeshadow and i would never, ever even think to wear yellow. yellow can be a tough color to pull off and so near the eyes makes it even more difficult. and if you factor that the color will be reflecting on the whites of your eyes to make you look jaundiced, i am going to have to pass on that too.

it just goes to show you: some trends are not supposed to be followed.

not so exceptional in french or english...

2008-09-12T14:57:00.004-05:00

i was so excited to try exceptionnel de chanel intense volume and curl mascara. not to be completely shallow, but there is something so decadent and luxurious about the unmistakable, interlocking "c"s. the innovative 6-sided brush promises dramatic results--and it delivered, but that being said, i really didnt like it. my problem in a nutshell was the brush. it has these tiny little combs that are supposed to--or at least, i think they are supposed to--brush lashes to coat the formula all over. i just had a really hard time with it. it felt goopy and clumpy and it took too many coats to achieve the look i desired. to be honest, while putting mascara on my first eye, part of me wanted to wash it off and start over. so for $28, i will absolutely not be purchasing this.

winning combos

2008-09-03T09:49:00.004-05:00

so i've been trying to step out of my beauty rut. yesterday i wore purple eye shadow--i hadnt done that in a very long while. today i am back to a light-colored sparkly eye shadow (bare escentuals playful) in the interest of time, but i found a new lipstick combo that i am just loving (i've been trying to play with the stuff i do have). bare escentuals gelato lipstick (medium pink with a subtle shimmer) topped with lancôme juicy tube in fruity pop (a pretty super-light pink with pinkish sparkle). it's the perfect neutral-y, light pink color with a hint of sparkle.

glow to go

2008-09-03T09:38:00.005-05:00

i got the best compliment yesterday. someone told me i was glowing--and i am sure i wasnt. i was running out to do errands, it was later on in the day and i hadnt touched my makeup since the am. i was a lot of things yesterday--and glowing wasnt one of them. i could attribute it to the face mask i did last night, but as i posted yesterday, i wasnt too impressed with the results. i think what my friend noticed was that i was wearing nars the multiple in copacabana. this is an old fave that i carry around with me every day, but had not worn in a long, long time. and i dont even know why because it is so very pretty. i am blaming it on the makeup rut i told you about yesterday--the one i am desperately trying to break out of. this handy-dandy secret weapon can be used all over, but i normally just put it on my cheeks for a subtle, shimmering pearly glow. and for the record now i am totally rethinking buying the orgasm multiple.

why is it tingling?

2008-09-02T11:02:00.004-05:00

i was really excited to try fresh's new black tea instant perfecting mask--an intense hydrating mask. i dont always love fresh's products; i want to, but sometimes think the cost isnt worth the result, but there is something so quaint and lovely about the products that i want to be proven wrong. so as soon as i got home last night, i washed my face and slapped this mask on (because i love a good moisturizing mask). the good? the whipped, velvety texture seemed so decadent and luxurious. the bad? about 2 or 3 minutes in there was a tingling sensation that did not sit well with me; it made me immediately want to wash my face. why was it tingling? i've done my share of moisturizing masks and they never tingle. plus, after i washed it off, my skin didnt seem significantly moisturized or firm.

a beauty rut

2008-09-02T10:48:00.004-05:00

I am in a beauty rut. i feel like i wear the same type of makeup day in and day out. there have even been days when i slap it on quickly just to get out of the house--and that is so not like me. i've only worn glitter twice this summer (i know a lot of experts frown on glitter, but whatever, i love it and it's fun!). i dont know what's come over me. lately, i've been sticking to the same kind of matte beige, sparkly beige, champagne, or sparkly champagne colored eyeshadow, pinky kind of blush and bright mouth. i'm using different colors, but they are all in the same color family. how boring. i still havent found my summer 2008 fragrance and summer 2008 is pretty much over. i have to get a hold of myself. yesterday i went trolling for my fall 2008 fragrance and after being chased out of bloomingdales by the overly solicitous staff--just because i sprayed it on doesnt mean i immediately want to buy it, so stop asking me if i want it; i need to let it set in to see if works on me so stop being so annoying!--i headed over to sephora for some peace, quiet and the freedom to try on fragrances. i want something strong, but pretty and sweet. i tried a bunch of the comptoir sud fragrances and really liked them, but felt like i smelled like i spent the day in the kitchen baking. pretty and vanilla-y, but i dont want to be confused for a pastry. my tastes tend to run on the sweet side so i was tempted by miss dior cherie, armani code and angel, which i love, but also wore in 2002--2003. i feel like i keep drifting to old favorites, but i really want to try something new. i was hopeful about the new ralph lauren and lancôme fragrances (notorious and magnifique, respectively) and while they are pretty, they just arent me. i guess, i will just have to keep my nose to the grindstone...

so disappointing

2008-09-02T10:40:00.005-05:00

i have never been a fan of benefit's benetint, but i couldnt wait to check out their new posie tint (in the interest of fairness, i feel like i should tell you that i loved moonbeam for a really long time). i should have taken my time. it was so disappointing. it's easier to spread on and blend than benetint is--which is my gripe with this particular product--but the color immediately got absorbed into my skin so it was like i wasnt even wearing anything. well, at least now i know, i wont be using my sephora gift card on this! it made me really, really sad because i wanted to snatch it up and love it.

it's still great to exfoliate

2008-07-15T15:46:00.003-05:00

i thought i would update you on my dermabrasion status; i am in step two/week 3 of my microdermabrasion system. i was a little scared of it as i mentioned in my earlier post, but i love it. step two has two exfoliators--the white one from step one and a gray one. now when i saw the gray color, i was like seriously, Do I want to put this on my face? but i shook off that silly thought, applied and massaged on my face for 1-2 minutes per instructions. i thought the other steps might be a little too harsh for my skin--we'll have to see about steps 3 and 4, but so far i am loving step two. i feel like my skin is softer and my complexion is brighter.

a hair affair

2008-07-08T13:10:00.003-05:00

i've been meaning to talk about these two products for weeks and it completely slips my mind every single time. i am not sure why because i am absolutely in love with both of them. every time i get in the shower, i can't wait to use the Kérastase BAIN MIROIR Shine-Revealing Shampoo for Sensitized, Color-Treated Hair (that's a mouthful, but worth it) and CHROMA REFLECT MASQUE Radiance-Enhancing Masque for Very Sensitized Color-Treated Hair. my hair always feels softer and smoother and the color always seems brighter. these are becoming two products i can't live without. plus, the fragrance is fantastic. Thank you JG and CT.

2008-07-08T12:44:00.003-05:00

i have not yet found my go-to summer 2008 fragrance, which is frustrating because we're already in July. and i feel like my summer fragrances of the past will just not cut it this year. i am still looking for something fresh and citrusy, but i am dying for something new. i dont want my old standbys. part of my problem/hesitation is that i feel most summer fragrances are so light they dont last on me. it pains me to say this because i really do love you, but Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue, i'm looking at you. lovely, refreshing scent, but it doesnt last on me. i feel like i could go through a bottle in a week, and when i notice it on other people it makes me want to hurt them. ok, fragrance and violence don't mix, it's just that it would be absolutely perfect. alas. sigh. of course, there are all the sheer incarnations of your favorites, but i feel like that's just a rip-off. i want something new. and fabulous and summery. something that will remind me of the good times of summer 2008.

it's like they read my mind...

2008-07-08T12:27:00.005-05:00

a couple of weeks ago i was in sephora--surprise! that never, ever happens--and i stumbled upon bare escentuals flawless radiance, which was like this beautiful soft beige-y peach color with a bit of sparkle. being that i love anything sparkly or glittery, i became obsessed with it and figured it could be a new foundation color since i sometimes use clear radiance as a foundation (i love, love, love it) and i am also a fan of the gossamers as foundation. K jokes that i want to look like J.Lo circa The Waiting for Tonight video. i dont even think the fine sparkle/glitter is even that noticeable. in any case, i debated buying it--do i really need it?--and finally just went into bare escentuals because i needed the fair foundation anyway. so i try it on and it's way too yellow on my skin. it would never work. i can't even use the fairly light because it's too yellow. so i was disappointed--until i remembered that i wanted to try the fairly light mineral veil. i usually just put the fair in spots and then the mineral veil all over, which you know, is not sparkly; however, the fairly light mineral veil is so it's really the best-case scenario for me. necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. i still maintain it's perfect for every day because the fine glitter/sparkle isnt that noticable, but it makes me feel good, which is what makeup should be.

it's great to exfoliate

2008-07-08T12:18:00.006-05:00

so i've been trying out a lot of the new avon stuff i recently purchased and i am loving the anew clinical advanced dermabrasion system. i will admit i was a little nervous to try this and wondered if i really needed it, or if it would be too much for my sensitive skin, but i was running out of my exfoliators and just not super impressed with them. i felt like i needed something with kick and now, i couldnt be happier. i figured worst case scenario, i dont like it. plus, there were four settings (1-4) and if i really felt like the others were too strong, i could just stick with setting 1. you're supposed to use each setting for 2 weeks 2 or 3 times a week and "rest" for 2 days. basically dont use it two days in a row. i am finishing up my second week and i will probably move on to setting two. i really feel like it's making my face softer and smoother. plus, it's working its magic on that damn little wrinkle on my forehead.

eye scream for eye cream

2008-07-01T14:35:00.004-05:00

so i am loving the avon eye cream i posted about recently and i definitely feel like it's smoothing out this one, tiny crease under my eye (it's the same one i always complain about). but during the day, i feel like the area under my eyes is so dry--of course, i know it is because there are no moisture ducts there--though this isn't unique to the avon cream because i feel like this with all eye creams actually, no matter how thick or emollient. great at first, but then a loss of elasticity during the day. when i get up in the morning, i love how everything looks a lot smoother because of the cream and "beauty sleep", of course.

for example, when i touch up my under eye concealer during the day, i feel like the under eye part is so dry that it doesn't snap back quickly and has a loss of elasticity. that bothers me and makes me feel like wrinkles are just around the corner. the eyes are the windows to the soul so who wants a cracked, wrinkly, dry facade? i am not sure what i can do about this aside from just applying more eye cream regularly during the day since i am not having this problem with face lotions and creams. in that vein, i've brought two under eye creams with me and i am obsessively compulsively rotating them before i put on hand lotion, which is often. they are MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, which i always love and forget about, and avon ageless results renewing eye cream. i do feel like today has been better (i noticed the dryness last week) so maybe the key is to just keep reapplying.

eye'm loving this right now!

2008-06-26T15:51:00.005-05:00

so i've been on this avon kick for a while now, ever since i started using the thirmafirm moisturizer, which i love, love, love and i've used a couple of different products, which i also love, love, love. i never really considered using avon before because, what was i going to order from an avon lady? no. i need a store, please. nevertheless, i am hooked, hooked, hooked. let's face it for the quality, amazing technology and price, these products can't be beat.

right now, my new favorite is the anew ultimate contouring eye system. the cream is supposed to restore elasticity and it smooths and firms while the intensive serum helps reduce the look of undereye bags. now, i dont have bags--thank goodness, dealing with the dark circles is its own lovely reward--but i do definitely feel like when i use this particular cream at night, the next morning i look considerably more well-rested than usual (and that's saying something!). i also feel like the tiny lines that i am noticing look a lot smoother.

smooth, soft hands, please!

2008-06-26T15:40:00.006-05:00

this whole dry-hands thing is really bothering me. the burt's bees is a nice little band-aid, but it's annoying to always have to put lotion on EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. you wash your hands.

i like the burt's bees, dont get me wrong. it's got this pepperminty/mentholy smell that i dig, but it can be a bit greasy. and sometimes i just dont want to wear lotion. plus, i wear contacts and i am afraid i will touch my eyes or something. and hands are the first to show visible signs of aging and your true age. in short, i am not having this. so i bought two new things and i am wearing both of them right now--i am kind of that way. i like them both.

first is avon anew ultimate transforming hand and nail cream spf 15. this is very rich and luxurious. i love that it has spf 15 and as much as i am queen of spf--i never put it on my hands. and i should know better; see above. love this stuff. it's on my desk at work and i am thinking that i should keep it in my purse for when i am outside never.

second is avon planet spa african shea butter hand and cuticle cream. i just threw this in the bag because i loved the scent, which was sweet and not overpowering. very moisturizing.

hopefully, these two will clear up my dry-hands problem soon!

2008-06-17T15:59:00.003-05:00

i dont know if it's the water or the soap in my new office, but my hands are beyond dry. dry to the extent where i must, must, must put lotion on every single time i wash my hands or they will be peely. not only is that gross, it's never happened to me before. needless to say i am not happy about this in the least. the new job is great, except for the super-dry hands. the good part is, there are many lotions in the bathroom to choose from after said hand-washing. the bad new is, none of these lotions even come close to moisturizing--that's how dire the situation is. thankfully, i was rummaging around in my purse (i really am like mary poppins sometimes) and found what is doing the trick: Burt's Bees Hand Salve. yes, it's a salve. this intensive moisturizer is packed with botanical oils, herbs, beeswax and features olive oil to moisturize and protect dry hands. i've been keeping it on my desk and my hands are back to their normal shape. i've also been using it as a lip balm in a pinch when i am too lazy to go inside my bag.

they're out to get me

2008-06-17T15:49:00.003-05:00

another FAVE-like lipstick discontinued. thanks, Givenchy, for discontinuing lip lip extreme in dinner beige. i will add it to my list of favorite lipsticks that i should have bought more of.

mascara update -- the search is over

2008-06-16T15:30:00.004-05:00

i've had my mascara woes lately; for a bit there, it seemed as though no formula or brand was good enough. and i have to be honest, i am always looking for a way out of paying $25 for mascara (i dont think there's anything wrong with that, people!). that being said, mascara is important--at least it is to me. i feel like my face isnt complete without mascara so i often find myself trying everything i can find. right now the search is over. i've recently started using avon's super shock mascara and i am very pleased with the results. the brush is big and coats every single lash. this amazing formula lengthens and volumizes so i am getting the big-lash look i want with fewer coats. and you can't beat the price!

catching up

2008-06-16T15:21:00.002-05:00

i feel like i havent posted in so long--and it's true, i havent. every time i pick something from my train case or try something new, i tell myself i need to post about it, but i havent. there has been so much going on, it's been hard to find time to post and now that i am actually posting, i don't have a specific product in my head.

it's summer now and there are so so so many new things i want. i've been on an extended shopping spree so it's a little bit hard justifying why exactly i need new makeup when i know that i dont (and everyone else probably knows that too).

i will say i have my eye on a new summer fragrance. something citrusy and crisp, but with a tiny floral note. i just want to feel fresh and invigorated with one spritz. i am also looking for the perfect coral lip, which i havent found yet. i've been doing a lot of neutral eyes because my dark circles are especially bad these days, but i want to try soft, pretty, brights on my lids. maybe i will get extra sleep tonight and try that tomorrow.

scheduled maintenance

2008-03-21T16:11:00.003-05:00

last night i looked at my train case and it's overflowing. it's scary. like really, really scary. when i bought it years ago, i was able to fill it up--of course--and it was organized and beautiful. that's actually my traincase in the picture. of course, it's empty and not scary looking. the best part was that there was still enough room to add to my collection of pretty, sparkly things. right now? not so much. right now, it's a mess and my products are hard to find. i really need to go through it this weekend and chuck some things, which is always a little bit painful to me. i hate parting with products; i am always afraid that i will want or need it in the future. but it must be done--this last week it's been scary to look at. plus i have way, way more products than i first started with--and that is good--so i've been thinking that maybe i need two traincases. that option is almost more scary because you know that i am going to just give myself more license to shop.

2008-03-21T16:03:00.002-05:00

i forgot how much i loved burt's bees marshmallow vanishing creme. there is a lot to love from this brand; i love a lot of burt's bees products and i am always telling people about it. most people look at me like i am crazy and, i think, dont believe me because the products are so inexpensive. i don't care how much they cost; they are magic. seriously. i love this one in particular because of the scent--it just smells sweet and yummy. i've been using this at night again for the last two weeks and i feel like my skin has looks amazing when i get up in the morning!

what's going on here?

2008-03-18T16:57:00.004-05:00

i am about the have a small flip out. the last few times i was at sephora, i could not find philosophy's pumpkin pie, waffle cone or banana nut bread 3-in-1 shower gels. i also can't find them on the site and amazon.com says they don't know if and when it will be in stock again. on qvc it's not sold separately; it's sold with cinnamon buns, which is dandy, but i just bought a 40 ounce bottle of cinnamon buns. cinnamon buns, i do not need. what i need is pumpkin pie, waffle cone and banana nut bread. even worse, on the philosophy site, while you can search for these items, there is no product-detail page and when i try to click on the item, i get an error message.

this makes me most unhappy. these are my favorites and i really don't think the new line of gelees is going to do it for me. i can buy mimosa but not pumpkin pie, waffle cone or banana nut bread? SERIOUSLY?

good things come to those who wait

2008-03-18T16:39:00.005-05:00

i've mentioned before that i am completely obsessed with chuck's makeup from pushing daisies on ABC. i spent a night researching it online (don't judge), but couldn't any info and then i got frustrated and gave up. i didnt even intend to pick up the search, but like kismet, the search found me because i was in sephora one day and there was the color that was chuck-ish.

i might have heard a choir of angels singing behind me.

so while not searching, i found it (i just know that has to mean something in my real life) and let me tell you, it was quite a relief because i NEEDED it!

it's such a pretty, coral-y color and just so fresh and right for spring. it's from stila and it's high shine lip color in michaela. and while i don't normally like stila's packaging, the etched floral pattern on the tube is really, really cute!

worth the wait

2008-03-18T16:13:00.003-05:00

my bare escentuals auto-delivery kit from QVC came yesterday and i could NOT wait to get my hands on it. SERIOUSLY. COULD NOT WAIT! now, don't judge the QVC factor because the kit had a mineral veil, gossamer, two eye shadows, liner, blush, lipstick and three brushes for $55. tell me who can beat that, people!

i've only used two things so far, but i am pretty happy. i was most excited for the diamond gossamer, which i used as my foundation this morning and then again as eye shadow. i was a little bit afraid that it might be too sparkly (notice it didn't stop me at all), but it wasn't a problem. it just had this glowy-glistening quality and it made me wish i was a snow fairy.

the original gossamer, which i love and quite frankly rarely use because it's just too darn pretty, has a lovely sparkle in an array of lovely little colors, whereas the diamond gossamer, infused with diamond powder, is just white. so as much as i would love to use original gossamer as my foundation, i feel like i would look like a 2nd grader who had a huge spill over at the arts & crafts table. but this just reminds me it's too pretty not to use--and i should definitely use it as eye shadow tomorrow.

i also used the lipstick; it's called gelato and it's a pinkish nude color that reminds me of THE FAVE, but on closer inspection is pinker than THE FAVE. it's been ten years now, and i should just face facts that there will never be another fave.

i just have to remind myself that there will be new and other faves from now on.

2008-02-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

once upon a time i used to love the body shop. i loved the little fragrance bar and their lotions and potions. i distinctly remember some oatmeal/honey mask that i obsessed over. i dont know what happened in my mind that changed, but i havent been to the body shop in years. and then i was. and i remembered why i loved it in the first place. it was like reconnecting with an old friend or riding a bike (another thing i havent done in years).

right now it's winter, i've been sick -- and me and my skin are feeling blah. in an effort to remedy that, i've been drinking as much water as i possibly can and using the body shop's Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask. it makes me feel like that tiny little act has completely hydrated and replenished my skin. i've been using it almost every night as a special little pampering treat.

2008-02-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

so i will admit that when the NARS orgasm glosses and multiples came out i was DYING, DYING, DYING to get my hands on them. coveted. dreamed. plotted. that being said, as soon as i saw the gloss i was like, Really? and was so disappointed. the multiple fared a little bit better; i saw it, loved it and then the second time i saw it, was disappointed and it was much like the first time i saw the gloss.

it was so sad.

then a few weeks ago, i was in my local sephora (they are pissing me off, btw) and saw the most beautiful NARS cream blush--seriously, i thought my heart was going to stop. i normally LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the line, but have been in a little disappointed in the past--and when i saw this color i knew all was well in the world again.

cactus flower. and it's beautiful.

it's so beautiful that the word simply does not do it justice. in the packaging it's a lovely, shimmering poppy color--the color that i have been dreaming of so long, but could not find. i reached for it because i had to have it--AND THERE WERE NONE LEFT. i am not gonna lie, i would have hulked out in sephora and started smashing displays, but i got a hold of myself and thought, this has to be a mistake, they have it SOMEWHERE.

they didnt.

i trekked over to another sephora on 57th and lex--and was about 30 blocks from home. because of cream blush (but it's so beautiful). they didnt have it either. it was like i was on the search for the holy grail or something and the next thing i know, i am calling up bendel's (they have it!) and it's being set aside for me.

it was worth every step and every penny.

the results are in

2008-02-07T17:25:00.000-05:00

i've been on this avon kick--i'm rotating a couple of their different products and so far i am pleased with the results. so in that vein, i was really excited to try their Ageless Results Renewing Day Cream SPF 15. what i really like about it is that it has the SPF built right in, so i get to skip a step (normally i use a separate one, but it's winter and i am feeling lazy. i hope i dont regret that in ten years). Soy helps stimulate cellular repair (that would be lovely!) while antioxidants and peptides prevent and reduce wrinkles (oooh!). all the scientific stuff aside, is has this really nice citrusy scent which makes me feel really invigorated in the morning (it's not overwhelming or cloying at all and it disappears immediately).

if you see something, say something

2008-01-31T16:28:00.000-05:00

the MTA has ads all over the place telling us riders if you see something, say something (a few years ago, a couple of girlfriends and i thought we saw something, said something and brought down the lexington avenue line, but i digress) so i did. i was standing on the platform on 59th street and i saw this woman wearing this gorgeous gloss so i asked her what it was. she was really nice--who doesn't enjoy a compliment from a perfect stranger?--and was pleasantly surprised when she told me it was NYC lip gloss in pink sand (available at drugstores for $1.99).

of course, i did not expect her to say that. i expected her to pull out Dior, CHANEL, anything but NYC $1.99 lip gloss-- even though i always say you can get drugstore finds. the funny thing is, it was very similar to a smashbox gloss that i have and love, but hate the brush. it's one of that's with a brush-tip applicator (i prefer the sponge)--and i hate it because the bristles lose their shape after each time you stick the wand back in the tube and it makes it hard to apply. so i'll definitely be trying the $1.99 version.

good to glow

2007-11-25T14:20:00.001-05:00

i can't say it enough times: SEPHORA IS KILLING ME. there are so many, many, many things that i want--but sadly, i am waiting for K's trip in december so we can shop together. let me tell you, it's torture, but i know that we will have so much fun and i can't wait for the big haul. SERIOUSLY. CANNOT. WAIT. however, i just got the bare escentuals precious diamond beauty duo to tide me over.

it's such a lovely color--it's like a combination of the line's bare skin and true gold colors. so pretty and so sparkly. you're supposed to brush it on shoulders, arms, décolletage or legs--i think this would be perfect for summer because it imparts a little bit of color and shimmer--but it got me to thinking this could be the perfect bronzer. to put it mildly, i am pale--i use the lightest bare escentuals foundation in fair--and i find most bronzers are too flat and muddy so the thought of putting them all over my face turns me off. instead, i used this yesterday, mixed with my mineral veil. at first, i used a a too-heavy hand and sort of looked like the oscar statue, but once i blended it just left a pretty glow. i feel like this is the perfect bronzer, and the brush is absolutely amazing--worth the price of the set alone!

ready to sparkle?

2007-11-21T23:18:00.000-05:00

i love too faced cosmetics. they are so fun and girly. the best part? there is so much sparkle. it's so pretty-pretty princess meets studio 54. every year around holiday time, they always catch my fancy with their whimsical palettes--even though i've sworn off palettes. but this look is exactly why i love them so much. this is just so pretty and awe-inspiring in its intricate sparkly detail. sigh. what can i say? i wish i could wear this in real life without looking like a drag queen. i even like the lipstick too!

goldilocks and the mascaras

2007-11-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

i kind of feel like the goldilocks of mascara--right now, nothing is good enough. diorshow blackout? too messy. diorshow regular? meh after the beautiful, striking blackout (why does it have to be so messy?). lancôme hypnose? i was loving it, but now for some reason, the color is getting on my lids and i hate that--it's a huge pet peeve of mine. bare escentuals big tease and magic wand brushless mascaras? i hate them so much, and it pains me to say that because i pretty much love everything in the bare escentuals line.

so i am kind of at a loss--and tired of spending $25 on mascara. i could go back to lancôme definicils, but like i said, i am tired of spending $25 on mascara and not being thrilled with the results. is it too much to ask for a good mascara that isnt a ridiculous price? i dont really balk at the price tags on beauty products--i know that with these sometimes you have to pay the piper, although there are really good products to be found in the drugstore-- but the prices of mascara kind of bug me, especially when you have to constantly replace. so i decided to try and old drug store staple: max factor 2000 calorie. i remember using this years ago and liking it, but we'll see. at this point, nothing mascara-related is making me happy. and if i end up hating this, oh well--it cost me $5.

hits & misses

2007-11-21T20:47:00.000-05:00

i hit sephora today--and i promised myself i wasnt going to buy something (there was some ritual and a blood oath involved). i really just wanted to peruse, touch, try everything before i went on a big haul. the good news? some of the things i thought i initially wanted somehow pale in reality--as opposed to the perfect beauty of the sephora catalog. the bad news? i remembered a whole passle of passel of products i wanted. i guess it was selective amnesia--and i am going to blame the selective amnesia on my wallet.

the nars night snow eyeshadow i'd been dying for? pretty, but i probably have 2 or 3 things like this. plus it might be a little too sheer. i am looking for a bright, winter-white. the too faced sparkler glamour gloss? pretty, but not what i expected. it wasnt as glittery as i thought (i know, i have problems--dont judge). the benefit miss popularity highlighter? this was the only product i could see myself buying, but it also wasn't what i expected. it was a dry, powdery highlighter and i like a cream formulation so much better. plus, i have a mark i-sheer cream eyeshadow in glacée with is a much cheaper doppelganger.

however, i finally got a chance to checkout the nars orgasm blush. i tried looking for this in september, but i couldnt find it in any sephora--they all said coming soon. and quite frankly, i forgot about it (i know, i am disappointed in myself too) until i was in sephora today. to be honest, i didnt have high hopes for it, which might explain me forgetting about it (again with the selective amnesia) because i wasnt particularly impressed with the orgasm lipgloss (i had a bare escentuals doppelganger, which i think is much better). well, i was wrong. this color is so so so pretty--and exact cream-to-powder translation of the best-selling blush. i can't wait to buy it--it will be the first thing i snatch up!

diamonds are a girl's best friend

2007-11-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

i was really excited about this new fragrance from emporio armani until i saw that beyonce was featured in the commercial. i wont lie, i was very turned off by it--i have nothing against her, i have her CDs, i've seen her in movies, she's a pretty girl, but she is a little overexposed. besides, wasn't she the inspiration behind tommy hilfiger's true star fragrance?

be that as it may, i smelled it and i became obsessed. regardless of whether or not beyonce was featured in the commercial, i had to have this. had. to. have. it's such a pretty fragrance--and the one word that comes to mind to describe it is sparkling. i dont even know how that is possible, yet it's so effervescent and fresh. featuring an intriguing blend of lychee, raspberry and rose, it's a modern floral reinvented. oh and let's not forget the faceted, diamond-inspired bottle that's oh-so chic!

skin science

2007-11-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

i've said it before and i will say it again: i can't believe that in all the time i've been obsessed with products, i've only just discovered avon. seriously--avon is one of the biggest companies out there and has so many great items. why wasnt i using avon before? it makes me so sad to think how i've been missing out.

i've been using thermafirm since the summer and i love, love, love it so when i saw that allure magazine (i think it was two issues ago) heralded the anew ultimate age repair elixir as a beauty breakthrough i couldnt wait to try it. coincidentally a few days later, i got the night cream and i was not disappointed. it has the richest texture, and it just glides on so smoothly. it's absolutely amazing. i've used it both night and day and it never feels greasy or goopy. the best part? it repairs skin while you sleep and stimulates proteins that change the way skin ages. basically, it's a lot of scientific mumbo-jumbo supposed to keep skin looking younger and firmer. i dont really understand how it works, but dont really need to as long as it takes care of my skin. you dont need to be a rocket scientist to know that's a good thing--and this is definitely a must-have!

saks fifth avenue in a bottle--really!

2007-11-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

i'm always looking for a new fragrance--and every season the search changes, but one thing always stays the same: there's such an emotional connection with scent. we're all looking for the one scent that defines us, capturing who we want to be and even how we are perceived by the world (or maybe that's just me!).

there's something so unmistakably personal about fragrance--sometimes it arrives in a room before you do. it can be the first thing people notice or simply what they remember about you.

i recently got my hands on Bond No. 9's Saks Fifth Avenue for Her and it's EXACTLY how that department store should smell like--or at least how you imagine it would smell like. smooth, sophisticated and subtly glamorous, it's a chic blend of gardenia, jasmine, vetiver and vanilla. it's so lovely and gorgeous that even though i am not a lady who lunches--now, at least, i have the luxury of smelling like one.

sephora is killing me

2007-11-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

i got my sephora holiday catalog last thursday and THEY ARE KILLING ME.

i know it's not personal and they dont mean to, but they are. THEY ARE KILLING ME.

i want everything. i look at it every day and i put post-its on everything i want. needless to say the catalog is covered because i want EVERYTHING. i am not exaggerating.

and the fairies are so pretty--it's really a work of art. now i know i can't stroll into the office with the obviously fake eyelashes and confetti on my face, but i am in serious awe of the beautiful images and the amount of work that must have gone into that shoot.

the brilliant sorceress and snow sprite spreads in particular are especially torturous. i am dying, dying, dying to get my hands on Too Faced Sparkle Glamour Gloss, Nars Eye Shadow in Night Snow and Benefit Miss Popularity. they are all so sparkly and pretty--and i am a sucker for shimmer and sparkle.

i am seriously restraining myself from hitting sephora and there are at least 2 near my office and one near my apartment. self control should be a gift with purchase.

skin so dry

2007-11-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

in all the time i've been obsessed with beauty products--and that's pretty much been my whole life, i can't believe that i am just now discovering Avon. where have i been? and more important: why wasn't i using this brand? right now there are a lot of Avon products in the rotation--and i am loving them all.

but first thing's first: the weather is getting colder so the office and apartment building are blasting the heat (note to office and apartment building, it's not THAT cold so STOP IT--today it was in the 60s!), which is taking its toll on my skin. i feel parched and dehydrated no matter how much water i drink--guzzle, actually.

it's making me seriously angry.

right now i am in such bad shape that simple lotion is not enough--because i like the scented lotions and i know that these are always a little less emollient. so i've had to take it to the next level. i'm layering Avon's Skin So Soft Bath Oil under lotion to lock in moisture--plus, oil has to be more hydrating. i also like bare escentuals dry oil spray, but i ran out (sidenote: i never run out of ANYTHING so i must have really liked this), which sounds kind of sad, but is actually good because then i probably wouldnt have tried the Skin So Soft and discovered that i love it.

after only three days on the Skin So Soft regimen, i think i can safely revert back to lotion, which is great--because really, do i need another step?

'tis the season!

2007-11-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

the holidays are almost here and it's the best time to go makeup shopping. i know that sounds shallow, but it's not--it's practical. this is the best time to get all those cute, limited-edition sets. yeah, yeah, i know the true meaning of christmas and i can't wait to celebrate with loved ones, but this is a makeup junkie's favorite time of year.

i've been doing a little retcon at sephora.com and i am almost afraid i won't be able to control myself this year. i am making my list and checking it twice--there are so many, many things i want!

i wont lie, i also love the way the holiday sephora girl looks with her sparkly green eye makeup--i know this isn't something that i can test at the office, but it's so pretty. it might just be perfect for new year's eve...

all made up?

2007-11-04T20:47:00.000-05:00

i am obsessed with that pretty, no-makeup makeup look--all the cute girls on tv are sporting it. i can't seem to get it no matter how hard i try. well, that's not exactly true--i can create it, but by lunch it looks like i am not wearing any makeup, which is completely infuriating because it takes a considerable amount of time to get that no-makeup makeup look. ironic, isnt it?

it's all about clean skin, flushed cheeks and a pretty pout. but unlike all the girls on tv, the difference with me is, i dont have makeup artists running around after me and touching me up. if only! and i guess i could do that on my own, but it seems like a silly waste of time in real life. i cant spend half my life in the bathroom or any shiny reflective surface fixing up my face when there is so much life to live, work to get done, friends to appreciate and the world to see.

i guess i will just start with reapplying lipstick after lunch.

lip lip hooray

2007-11-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

it's been a while since my last post--staying on top of the fall tv season, catching up on my magazines and hanging out with friends has kept me pretty busy. but i had to come out of my cozy little hibernation to wax poetic about Shiseido The Makeup Automatic Lip Crayon in LC3. i have more glosses and lipsticks than any girl has a right to, but it is my right and i will continue to amass as many as possible, as i am in search of perfection.

this glides on so smoothly; it's a pencil but it has the look of a gloss. and the color? the color is so sweet and luscious--it stains your lips like you just ate strawberries or were eating a popsicle. it's lovely and bright, but so pretty and natural at the same time. i definitely need to pick up some more--and so do you!

magazines, we can tell

2007-10-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

now that it's fall, all the magazines are telling me it's time to update my look. clothes. shoes. makeup. it's time for a change! and i am so excited--i love fall, everything about it. but the thing is, the magazines? so not helping. the models? completely airbrushed, photoshopped and kinda vacant (sorry, girls, but you're still pretty). the celebrities? as much as i love them--not much better. i wont even talk about america ferrerra on the cover of glamour last month. so pretty and so photoshopped. magazines, we can tell. everyone can use it nowadays. and she is gorgeous on her own--let her be!

it makes me so angry.

i remember a time when i would look forward to my magazines to see new makeup. now it's just for the products--i dont even bother with the pictures because everything kind of looks the same. and now that i can't depend on the magazines--i've turned to the tv for inspiration. (i know this will open a whole other can of worms).

the girls? still pretty, but so much more active. and it's almost easier to see the makeup with all the different kinds of lighting. plus i feel like there are so much more options. right now my girly-makeup-want-to-look-like-this obsession is chuck from pushing daisies. i didnt even bother to look up the actress' real name because i am certain her whole look is central to the character. look at her, even rising from the dead she looks gorgeous, dewy, fresh. i just want to look like this normally (and i've never even been resurrected). the skin is glowy--i am thinking some kind of cream highlighter and highlighter powder (and i need to know specifics). but what i love, love, love is the gloss. what is that and where do i get it?

why magnifying mirrors are bad

2007-09-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

JG and C might be the only people who truly understand my product obsession--i think it's because they've been buyers for so long--but even they still give me weird looks when i bust out my makeup bag. we were in portland, OR, for a couple of days for C's wedding and i did my best to bring a pared-down makeup bag, yet still be prepared for whatever makeup mood might strike. i did a pretty good packing job--i sort of thought about what "faces" would match the specific outfits i'd packed. i dont normally think like this; i do my makeup first and then see what outfit should match (i am probably the opposite of every other woman out there). it worked out well, even though i did miss the rest of my "babies" at home.

portland was great, the wedding was great, but there was only one problem: the magnifying mirror in the bathroom. i dont have one at home--and that's a good thing. i read somewhere once that using a magnifying mirror will make you see things in the mirror that arent there normally--or at least visible to the naked eye. but there was one already in the bathroom and i wasnt able to sit in front of my regular mirror and well... things got ugly, literally. i felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. i am obsessive about applying moisturizer and sunscreen, i guzzle water by the gallon and think i have pretty good skin. one look in the magnifying mirror and i started feeling like a hag. there was this one wrinkle under my right eye that i swear was not there when i left NYC on wednesday--and i am pretty sure it's not there now (i keep checking the mirror), which is just one of the reasons i am glad to be home. portland was great, i just dont like their mirrors.

let's get real

2007-08-27T23:23:00.000-05:00

a couple of weeks ago, JU gave me the Bare Escentuals Real Fall 2007 Color Collection for my birthday. i could not wait to try it--so of course, the second i opened it at work, i used my fingers to put on one of the new eyeshadows and immediately applied the gloss. the packaging is so darn cute and what's inside is even better. there are 2 stand-outs for me: the Exquisite glimpse is aptly named (it's the perfect, classic beige that will work on its own for a natural face or layered with other colors) and the Sensational gloss is just that (it's such a pretty, shimmery beige--it's natural and neutral, but not boring). the legit liner shadow (purple), the real deal glimpse (green) and the first class blush (light, rosy pink with small amount of sparkle) are so pretty too.

it is well documented that i love bare escentuals, but i think what i love best is the healthy and empowering be-yourself-and-be-beautiful message that the company promotes.

random thoughts

2007-08-27T22:31:00.000-05:00

so every magazine i've opened up in the last few weeks has heralded the return of lipstick. i can't help but wonder, where did it go in the first place? lipstick is back? really? when did it go away? i never stopped using it. should i have? no, but that's not what the magazines are telling me.

it wasnt like they werent being sold in stores. it wasnt like the brands werent coming out with new formulations and colors. so really, lipstick never went away. why are they telling me it did?

of course, i am the queen of glosses and for the most part, i wear a gloss every day (or a couple of different ones--i am like a mad scientist), but there are times when i wear lipstick. sometimes you just need the "done" lipstick look (and nothing can ever replace the perfect red lipstick). besides, i have my favorites that cannot be abandoned.

it just goes to show, you have to do what works for you and makes you feel good--because in the end that's what beauty is all about (at least it should be).

eye love this right now!

2007-08-19T20:53:00.000-05:00

i am always on the hunt for a better concealer. as i've said, i have the worst dark circles ever. it's blackness under my eyes no matter how much sleep or rest i get. my friends try to be nice and tell me it's not bad, but the harsh truth is: it is that bad. i feel like i've tried everything. one time at the lancôme counter the makeup artist suggested i put pink lipliner and then concealer over it. sounds crazy, right? but i tried it because i hoped it would help. i am not sure how long i did it before i realized, 1) it wasn't working (i really wanted it to), 2) it was a lot of work rubbing pink lipliner under my eyes (the lipliner on it's own was really pretty, but i dont use lipliner) and 3) i looked like one of the zombies from 28 days later. i'd heard that the cle de peau concealer was amazing so i tried it at saks, but $65 seemed pretty steep--especially because after a few weeks, i give up on the product i am currently using and try to find something better. then i remembered reading somewhere (no clue where) that the max factor erase concealer was the cheap version of the clea de peau--and i have to admit, it's been working pretty well. i like the lipstick shape, it helps get right in the corners and under the lashes. plus for $4, it wont break the bank if i decide i want to try something else.

all that glitters

2007-08-19T19:55:00.000-05:00

i noticed this a couple of weeks ago when i was in sephora helping J pick out a new lipstick. i had to restrain myself from picking it up right on the spot (it's a daily struggle--do i really need anything else? no, but i WANT it!). at first, i thought the rollerball could be messy--you might not be able to control how much product comes out--and this is how i talked myself into not buying it. then i went back today and really could not help myself (i have a problem, it's fine). all the colors are so pretty, but as soon as i saw the hydra all i could think of was fairy princess makeup. i almost can't wait for monday morning so that i can put this on--that's how excited i am about this!

the show's over

2007-08-19T18:44:00.000-05:00

i waxed poetic about diorshow black out. i do love it--i think it would make everyone's lashes look amazing. long, full, extreme black shade. i love it when i put it on and then at night when i was my face, it looks like i was beaten up. that's the only drawback--it is hard to get off. i love it, but i hate it. i havent had this kind of a love/hate relationship with a product since urban decay midnight cowboy eyeshadow; loved the color and the sparkles, but hated that the big chunks got in my eyes.

so today i went on a mini sephora haul and picked up lancôme hypnôse. i've used it before and remember loving it then too. i feel like i am breaking up with a good friend.

who? what? WEN? where? how?

2007-08-19T18:28:00.000-05:00

there are lots of women with lovely curly hair--and i'm not talking about celebrities, i mean regular women on the street--however, i am not one of them. i love other people's curly hair--just not mine. i'd pretty much given up on my hair UNTIL i tried WEN by Chaz Dean, an innovative cleansing conditioner. i am not going to lie, i saw it on QVC and was mesmerized by the before and afters, but i held off. i didn't actually believe that anything could help. tired after a long, hot summer of wearing my frizzy hair up in a clip, i went out on a limb, hoping against hope that it would work. then it finally arrived last week and i am HOOKED. HOOKED. i can't stop talking about the stuff and telling everyone i know that they must try this. it's amazing. AMAZING. i recently got a haircut and everyone was really complimentary (it's a good haircut); everyone asked if i'd touched the color. no, i said, it's the amazing WEN by chaz dean, which made my hair so shiny and bouncy. for the first time in my life i feel like i have nice hair.

avon calling!

2007-08-19T18:06:00.000-05:00

EC got a new job at avon and we were devastated. how would we manage without EC? but she loves it so we're happy for her. and i love her job because she's given me some new things to try--and i love it all!

i've been wanting to try the anew clinical products for some time--i love the ads that market this product as the at-home alternative to a face lift. let me tell you, it was worth the wait to try these CEW award winners. the eye lift is amazing--there is an upper eye gel and an under eye cream--totally ingenious-- and it's designed to strengthen skin over time by boosting collagen and elastin production. the thermafirm face lifting cream features triple sonic technology™ and radio frequency waves to tighten skin and renew collagen growth. i keep asking my girlfriends if i look tighter and more lifted--and they keep looking at me like i am crazy, but they do answer positively. and let's face it, i just celebrated another birthday so i'm not getting any younger.

so pretty!

2007-08-12T17:35:00.001-05:00

i love jennifer garner--i loved her on alias and i thought she was adorable and funny and charming in 13 going on 30. i thought she was hysterical hosting saturday night live--the walmart skit was awesome (AH KNOW!). i even watched elektra because of her. i love jenny garner--just love her, can't say it enough. every time i see her, i think she's one of those celebrities i feel like i could be friends with. (ok she's officially filing a restraining order against me). she's gorgeous, seems genuinely sweet and when she's in the tabloids it's not because she's making a fool of herself--what's not to love? apparently, she's also the new face of Neutrogena--i guess this was announced a while ago, but i just saw her in a commercial. i'd been wanting to try their new anti-oxidant age reverse products and now that she's the new spokesperson, i can't get myself to the store quick enough.

i am always rotating products, but the one thing that never ever changes is the sunscreen i use--and i use it religiously. i've been using neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch sunblock spf 55 for a couple of years now on top of the serum and moisturizer. i was even thinking of going up to spf 70 and then i got a hold of myself and realized that five days a week i am only outside 15 minutes in the morning walking to the subway and maybe 10 minutes during lunch. so spf 55 should be plenty.

why did i wait so long to try this?

2007-08-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

i admit it: i stockpile products. at any point in time i can go in my medicine cabinet or other bathroom cabinet and find myself a new treat. it's not because i forget that they are there; it's because i am savoring it! i am waiting for the perfect moment. you know those wine people who hold on to a bottle of wine for that special occasion? well, that's me with beauty products. i am not sure what made last saturday the day to try the MAC fast response eye cream, but i am SO glad i did. it was in the medicine cabinet for months and every time i glanced at it, i would just pass it on by. and now i am kicking myself--kicking myself because i love it so much! it's a gel-type formula and while normally i dont think that gels provide me with nearly enough moisture, this one proves me wrong! it's a gel, but it also has a certain je ne sais vaseline quality that makes it super emollient. and the beauty of it is that it's not messy or goopy like vaseline. it goes on smoothly and stays in place--it doesn't run into my contacts at all (that is sometimes a problem for me). lesson learned: if you wait to long you might miss out on something you really love.

the sweet smells of summer

2007-07-21T16:24:00.000-05:00

i am always thinking about fragrance. i can't have enough. i always want another. i think it's because i am looking for that singnature fragrance--one that embodies my personality. i havent found it yet and i have a bathroom full of fragrances to prove it. mind you, i realize that fragrance is something manufactured by a group of people in a lab and sold to millions so i might never find it, but you've got to have hope, people! life would be so boring without hope, fragrance or beauty and skincare products. now everyone knows you need to change your fragrance with the seasons. winters call for a heavier scent and summers for a lighter one. during the summers i usually alternate dolce & gabbana light blue, moschino i love love and annick goutal eau de hadrien. there is something about these three i love--they are all light and refreshing scents that are crisp with a definite hint of citrus. perfect for summer. this year i dont know why but i havent even thought about wearing them. right now i am alternating burberry london, dkny red delicious and vera wang princess. all are lovely scents, but none scream or smell summer, if you will. instead, this season, i am all about the girly scents. maybe it's the plaid bottle, i dont know, but i am loving burberry london. it's floral, yet modern--sweet but not cloying. vera wang princess is so deliciously feminine, it couldn't be better named. it's sweet with hints of vanilla and it always makes me feel like i am wearing the prettiest, floaty fairy-princess type dress (and that's not how i roll) dkny red delicious is another sweet one, but there's something about it that's still crisp and refreshing and always makes me feel pulled together. maybe i wont find my signature fragrance any time soon, but i'll definitly feel good while searching.

captured: summer fun in a bottle

2007-07-21T11:46:00.000-05:00

the incomparable cherylshops cherylshops.blogspot.com gave me a sample of the new Bond no. 9 Coney Island. Having grown up in brooklyn, i could only wish the real Coney Island actually smelled like this. this new fragrance is more like what Coney Island will smell like after the revitalization. seriously. this lovely scent is perfect for summer--it's light, fresh, sweet and just a little bit tangy. it's actually perfect for any season--especially when you just want to recreate the lovely memory of breezy, lazy summers.

talk about an eye-opener!

2007-07-21T11:12:00.001-05:00

i love diorshow mascara--i thought i couldnt love anything more and then i discovered diorshow black out. i've been talking to everyone i know about it. i am probably quite annoying with my, have you tried diorshow blackout yet? it's only available at sephora for a limited time so hurry up! it's like diorshow, but better. how is that possible you ask? it's the amazing, intense, deep-black hue. i like a lot of lashes--i dont wear eyeliner so my mascara has to do the trick. basically, with just one coat my eyes look vibrant and awake. what's not to love?

everyone can learn a thing or two from Bobbi Brown

2007-07-20T13:33:00.002-05:00

last saturday JG, C, A and I hit the soho bloomies to shop for C's wedding makeup. C wanted something similar to Eva Longoria's wedding pics on the cover of OK! (i think this was the magazine, but i could be wrong). dramatic eye with a neutral lip--and C is just so lovely, i couldn't imagine it not looking great. anyway, i am not particularly fond of the downtown outpost of bloomies--i think that the cosmetics department is way too small and the salespeople are way to pushy. after perusing a couple of different counters, we finally got comfy at Bobbi Brown--i had a feeling we'd end up there because every bride i've ever known raves about the Bobbi Brown MAs. And let me tell you, they have reason to! the MA did such a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful job on C that i just stood there gaping. she looked like herself, but like the best version of herself--a dramatic, glammed of version of herself. exactly the way you would want to look like on your wedding day.

she used a bunch of different products, but by far the stand out and the thing i am going to purchase next--actually make that the two things i am going to purchase next (i can't help myself) are the pot rouge in calypso coral (coral always sounds scary, but it isnt. in it's best incarnation it should be soft and this color is velvet loveliness. 3 of us put it on afterward and our skin tones and coloring couldnt be more different. this is a must-have, i think!) and the long-wear gel eyeliner. any color of the gel eyeliner would be amazing--the secret is the formula. i dont usually wear eyeliner and when i do, it's usually liquid, but i want to start wearing eyeliner because this product is so amazing.

2007-07-01T19:53:00.000-05:00

i love too faced. just love them. love the products, the whimsy, the packaging–and i love that they don't break the bank. these are good-quality, girly and glam. however, they discontinued one of my favorite products--it is the beauty lover's curse. the blush bouquet pure flower essence gel blush was amazing. it was the perfect i've-been-running and now i have this pretty flush blush. the best part? it also doubled as a great lip stain. seriously, this was the perfect product. but now i can't find it anywhere so i only bust it out on special occasions. i know, i am sad. the great news is i think i've found a perfect doppleganger: Smashbox Skin Tint in Infrared.

mondays just got brighter!

2007-07-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

it's been so long since i've posted--what can i say? i've been really lazy, really busy and really having fun. but i am back and in part it's because of the Vincent Longo Diamond Gloss. i just had to blog about this beautiful red-berry color with glitter and shine (via veneto). i went to sephora today--i needed a treat or 4, dont judge--and was doing one last walk-through before i went to check out and had to stop, stare and, of course, try this. seriously, i am staring at it right now and it makes me so happy. at least i am not a drug addict, i say. we all know i have an obsession with glosses and this is the perfect shade for summer.

and the big winners are...

2007-02-25T20:17:00.001-05:00

i am not, nor do i claim to be a style expert. however, i love looking at the makeup at the oscars. it's one of hollywood's biggest nights--and we all know that people spend hours getting ready for their close-ups. it's like prom night for movie stars. so let's get down to business. i think the first big trend we saw was a strong lip in a range of reds, pinks and burgundy and the second was glowing, radiant skin.

Helen Mirren was radiant. This is an example of what aging in Hollywood should look like. I loved the shimmery cheeks and the lip color. I hope that I look this good at her age.

Jessica Biel is gorgeous and while i wasn't impressed with the hair, i loved the color of her dress and her bright lips and cheeks.

Rachel Wiesz is absolutely stunning--i kind of have a girl crush on her. i loved her lip color--it was rich and intense, but not overpowering--and a striking contrast to her creamy skin and the icy color of her dress.

Cate Blanchet always has this ethereal quality. she had glowing skin and i loved her peachy lips and cheeks.

Kate Winslet is another actress i am in love with--she is so gorgeous and talented. on first glance, i was not impressed with her makeup, but the subdued peach tones really did complement the color of her pastel dress. she also has amazing skin.

Cameron Diaz was out to make a statement and boy, did she ever! eat your heart out, Justin. she looked happy and radiant. i absolutely loved the sun-kissed skin.

Meryl Streep is another example of aging gracefully. i loved that she said her dress size on national tv. the woman is an inspiration.

Jennifer Hudson has amazing skin and i loved her metallic eyes. this was one of my favorite looks. it was so pretty and shimmery and perfect for a big night out.

Gwyneth Paltrow looked really great. the hair was a little bit warmer and the ruby lips were so pretty.

Nicole Kidman also sported a bright lip--and i love it because we usually see her in light, pastel tones.

Emily Blunt was brilliant in The Devil Wears Prada--and on the red carpet. i loved the pink lip--so, so pretty.

Penelope Cruz is beautiful, but i wished she'd taken more of a risk with her makeup. it was very subdued.

i think i got it!

2007-02-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

it's no secret i am obsessed with izzy stevens' lipgloss. i googled everything i could think of to figure out what the shade was. nothing. one of my favorite sites www.makeup411.com, which lists the products movie and tv stars use, only had the makeup katherine heigl wore on roswell. while this wasn't helpful, this site in general is awesome. you can check out what you're favorite movie and tv stars use to get those gorgeous looks--it's even organized by movie and tv listing. so i had to figure out the shade on my own. after hitting countless department stores and sephora, i think i found a pretty good facsimile: CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE in Tender. this is the prettiest shade of light pink--it's the grown-up, sophisticated incarnation of the bubble gum pink shade you wore when you were younger. it has a supersmooth consistency and the lightest specks of glitter. not only is it an absolutely gorgeous shade, the sleek CHANEL packaging will instantly make you feel like a glam diva.

get yours now

it's a big week!

2007-02-25T15:04:00.001-05:00

this week is very exciting! first, oscar fever is in the air--and tonight, just like everyone else, i will be glued to the awards show. everyone is dying to know who will receive a golden statue and what the gorgeous ladies will wear, but i am dying get a peek at the makeup! i can't wait to see who will be sporting a smoky eye, a red lip or an ethereal glow. i will try to post my favorites this week. second, i have been invited to attend a Prescriptives focus group. i am such a fan of Prescriptives Skin Care that i can't wait till the big day! i will post more about that later too.

living beauty

2007-02-25T14:12:00.001-05:00

whenever i get a new magazine in my mailbox, i can't wait to check out the beauty section. and once i get into my apartment, the thought process before reading the magazine goes something like this: skip right to the beauty section; no, don't do that because then you will never pick it up again; skip right to the beauty section. NO! read it like a normal person. this month's InStyle was worth the wait of getting to the beauty section by reading the magazine in order (don't get me wrong, i love InStyle, but this month, there were a lot of ads). this month's beauty section was great; from the 3 faces 3 places section to the coast-to-coast beauty, but my favorite section was by far bobbi brown's beauty lessons and the 3 comments on beauty from Ann Curry, Marcia Gay Harden and Susan Sarandon. i think what i appreciated most was that the Bobbi Brown section mentioned ways to look younger without opting for surgery--and i can't wait to go out and buy her book Living Beauty.

2007-02-25T14:12:00.000-05:00

that old green magic

2007-02-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

i take care of my skin and for the most part, it's pretty good. i use serums and moisturizers religiously; i exfoliate, i do a masque once or twice a week. i wear sunscreen every day. and still i get breakouts. and let me tell you, i resent it. i have to admit, they aren't the worst breakouts in the world, but they are to me. sometimes it will be in a certain spot or it's just one of those under the skin monsters. and i've tried everything you can imagine to get rid of them quickly. so far, the only thing that works on every kind of pimple is the queen helene mint julep mask. i don't use this all over my face because it's pretty drying--just in the spots where i want something to go away. i put it on overnight and the next morning, it's pretty much gone. voila! just like that. granted, i end up going to bed with freakish green spots all over my face, like an abstract version of the chicken pox, but it's pretty miraculous. if it's a really bad scenario, i have to dab it on 2 consecutive nights. and the best part? it's an absolute bargain--you can find it on the shelf of most drugstores for like $4.

just gorgeous!

2007-01-28T21:54:00.000-05:00

As Bree Van De Kamp Hodge, Marcia Cross looks amazing. The hair is glorious, the skin is radiant and the makeup is sublime. It’s normal looking women like this in Hollywood, the ones who aren’t Botoxed to an inch of their lives or have had so much plastic surgery they end up looking like frozen caricatures of themselves that make me think aging isn’t such a scary concept.

Now for some reason, every Monday morning, I want to look like Bree Van De Kamp Hodge. I don’t know what it is about Mondays, but there is just something about the first day of the week, which makes me want to look like a put-together WASP. Usually, I am running so late that I barely end up looking like Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman is gorgeous and another example of a normal-looking woman, but on that show they don’t glam her up very much). It’s Sunday night and tomorrow is another day, and another chance to strive for the perfection of Bree Van De Kamp Hodge.

your best face forward

2007-01-28T20:55:00.001-05:00

i can't say enough about bare escentuals, literally. whenever the subject comes up, i always say, "i can't say enough about bare esentuals" and then talk about how much i love their products. it's like my mission to convince everyone i know to use their products (slowly but surely, i am getting there). i've been using the foundation for about five years and i will never use anything else. i dont even try other foundations--and that tells you how much i love this because i am always trying something new. i can't imagine anything being better than this. it never feels like i am wearing makeup; it feels so light. plus, it delivers amazing coverage and blends flawlessly into the skin so it looks like you're not wearing anything.

i am always on the hunt for a better concealer. i've tried everything--or at least it seems that way. i will use something for a few months because i want to make it work, but the reality is that it's not working. well, just recently i decided to try the foundation as a concealer. honestly, i dont know what took me so long--i think i worried about the powder sitting under my eyes, where there is no moisture, and looking cakey. let's just say, i regret not trying it earlier because i wasted so much time looking like i've been awake all night (and what's the point of that?). my little secret: after i apply this, i use the white shade of the well-lit/back-lit in the corners of my eyes and the area closest to my nose (this duo also doubles as a great eye shadow). i just started this new routine last week and i am really satisfied with the results.

2007-01-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

the perfect shade

2007-01-28T17:52:00.000-05:00

like everyone else in the world, i am addicted to grey's anatomy. the show is great and the writing is amazing. that said, every week, when i am watching all i can think about is, what lip gloss is katherine heigl wearing? i am also convinced that sara ramirez is wearing it (and it looks great on her too!). i dont normally go for the super light pink shades, but this particular one looks so pretty. it's such a pretty, glossy shade and you can tell it has a slight touch of sparkle. i have a Lancôme Juicy Tube (the name of the shade has worn off) that's a pretty light pink and it might be close, but i need to know what exact brand and shade she is wearing. i dream of this shade. when i am getting ready for work, i really feel like my entire train case can be revitalized by the addition of this one shade!

eye've got to try this!

2007-01-26T20:29:00.001-05:00

everyone makes fun of me for my glitter obsession--if it sparkles i want it. it's not like i walk around looking like a vegas showgirl or anything, but it just seems so pretty to me. earlier this week, i got an email about the urban decay glitter eye gel and i can't wait to try it because i love my glitter liquid liner so much (i've been restraining myself from picking up another one in a different color). if this week hadn't been so absolutely insane (i was at work till 9:30 last night--needless to say this week has kicked my butt), i would have already tried this at sephora. i guess i have something to look forward to this week!

a fresh perspective

2007-01-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

i haven't posted in a while--work's been crazy, i've been lazy--so there are so many beauty-related things rattling around in my brain. last weekend i cleaned out my train case and it was intimidating, overwhelming and finally liberating. i called K in the middle of it, in a panic. "i have these two urban decay eye shadows (polyester bride and midnight cowboy) do i toss or do i keep? they are beautiful, but the glitter is too chunky, ends up all over my face and eventually in my eyes. obviously, it shouldn't have been a dilemma. toss it. but it makes me feel terrible; what if i want it later? what if i miss it? what if there was a way i could have made it work. i also tossed out some things i had no business keeping; some were old and some i hadn't touched in ages. every morning while i got ready, i would look at some of these products and they were just sitting there for so long, not being used and it was making me feel guilty. now they are gone, and it's a little bit of a relief. i organized and moving things around made me realize i always reach for the same things (or in the same color family) so i've been breaking out of my rut this week, trying new things. i've been mixing it up a little and it feels good. the best part? now i have room for even more stuff!

new year, bad skin.

2007-01-03T21:31:00.000-05:00

i am still just recovering from new years weekend 2006, and feeling lazy. and i mean recovering in the sense that i had guests. it was wonderful to be with my girlfriends--so wonderful that it's almost like real life sort of disappears into the edges while you're reminiscing about old days and making new memories. it makes me tend to forget about my routine and my habits, like slathering on the cream as much as i should. kate was here for a while, which was, as usual, awesome. liz spent one night too, and that was also great. but i am tired. we ate crap, stayed up late, drank too much soda, drank too much, period. i didn't drink a lot of water either, which was unusual for me. so i feel like crap and i think my skin looks like crap. drab. lackluster. and of course, i've got some nice little breakouts--because when it rains it pours. so i tried to take some steps last night.

instead of just exfoliating, i did the microdelivery peel sample i've had sitting in the bathroom. it's the second time i used it--and i liked it better this time than the first time. i dont know if i will purchase this, but it definitely has its merits. i like the citrus scent and the texture of the exfoliating granules--i think this is a great exfoliator, but i get kind of thrown off by the activating gel. there is supposed to be a warming sensation that occurs, but i dont really feel it. i dont know if it's because it's a sample--i opened it and then put it in a ziploc bag and figured it would be ok. or maybe warming sensation is a vague term and i am expecting actual heat. i dont know. of course, i've been smoothing on Burt's Bees Evening Primrose Overnight Cream . it's not even like a skin cream, it's more of a balm and while this might sound frightening, it's pretty amazing. very emollient and moisturizing. a lot of people might hate it because it's a bit greasy and sticky, but if you smooth it on just right, there will be amazing results in the morning. this is also great under the eyes, i discovered last night. today i did Lancôme's Hydra-Intense Masque, which definitely soothes and awakens my parched skin.

so that's it. and i've been trying to gulp down the water and slathering on the aquaphor. hopefully, i will look like a human being tomorrow when i am back at work.

my eyes don't always have it

2006-12-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

i have terrible dark circles. no matter how much sleep i get or what lightening products i use, i still have them. what makes it worse is that i am pretty fair, so it always seems like i have this dark, purplish tint under my eyes. it's unfortunate, but it's true, and it's also genetic (thanks, Mom). i always worry that it's the first thing people notice about me (that poor girl should really get more sleep!), and it's the one thing i would change about my appearance. unfortunately, there aren't any genies or magic lamps laying around my apartment to make wishes on so i have to make due with concealer. i have pretty much tried everything (if there is something you think is amazing, please send me an email at tiltzybeauty@gmail.com), but right now the two things that allow me to pass for a human being are the Lola Highlighting pencil and Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. after all of my makeup is done, i put the Lola pencil under my eyes and follow it up with the Laura Mercier. i have to reapply later in the day, but since mine are so bad, i think that either of these products or the combination of both will work for anyone.

get your own Lola Highlighting Pencil now!

get your own Laura Mercier Secret Concealer now!

the fountain of youth in a bottle

2006-12-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

most people think a beauty product's results are in direct correlation to its price tag. Burt's Bees disproves that theory. i discovered this last year and not a morning or night has gone by that i don't put on the Burt's Bees Repair Serum. seriously. twice a day, no matter what. this stuff is awesome--and so emollient. i'd venture to say that some people could just get away with using this, but you know how i like to layer my moisturizing products. at first, i was afraid that this would break me out because it's like an oil, but not one pimple! not one pimple and it totally smoothes and decreases the appearance of fine lines. i've used serums before, but i never felt like i could see a difference. that was so not the case with this amazing serum--i started seeing results immediately. this also calms my sensitive skin, and i am not sure how, but it makes skin look radiant. i got this in a Burt's Bees facial care gift set and i immediately went out and bought the full-size serum before i'd even used the last drop of the original bottle.

get your own now!

we should all be more cheeky!

2006-12-05T12:33:00.000-05:00

i love that whole i've been skiing out in the great outdoors and drinking hot toddies in the chalet look. it's so rosy and pretty and healthy looking. the fact is, the only time i really spend outdoors is when i am running to starbucks. so creating that pretty flush takes work. one of my favorite tools is Stila's convertible color--i have 3, i love them so much (fuchsia, poppy and peony). the fuchsia and poppy are perfect for this--just layer and blend with a cotton ball. the peony is a nice neutral. then i just put some pretty powder blush over it to keep it in place. you're supposed to be able to use this on your lips, but it's not great on the lips. in a pinch, it's fine, but this is so great on the cheeks, it really doesn't matter. plus, it lasts forever.

get your own now!

now you don't have to be afraid to show some skin

2006-12-04T19:01:00.000-05:00

ok, i really love philosophy. really, really love them. i guess this is where i say, i dont work for philosophy--i just love their products. ok, i already said that, but it can't be said enough times. i've been using the purity made simple cleanser for a while now--i dont know for how long, but it's like time stood still when i discovered this product. i want to shout from the rooftops of every tall building in manhattan and tell everyone they need to go out and buy this. i love rich, creamy cleansers and this is the best one out there. it gently removes all traces of makeup and mascara without drying out my skin. plus, i never have that tight, uncomfortable feeling when i use this.

another thing i am obsessed with from philosophy is the microdelivery peel pads. i have have to say, i was scared of trying this at first because my skin is VERY sensitive. i don't use any alpha hydroxy/beta hydroxy acids or retinols/retinoids, but i recently saw a friend of mine who looked absolutely radiant and when i asked her what she'd been doing, she said she'd been using this stuff. so automatically i was like, ok, i need to bite the bullet and try this because i have been staring in the bathroom mirror and obsessively dwelling on this little line developing on my forehead. i will say, it is pretty fine, but still i notice it and i can't help but wonder if everyone else is staring at it as intently as i do. rationally, i know they are not, but it's hard not to worry about the signs of aging. that said, i dont want it to get deeper, but i am not about to botox it up (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's just not me) so i thought, let's try the microdelivery peel pads--and got a sample from sephora. (seriously, i love that place and will talk more about it later). and you know what? i am so glad i did because i have noticed in the TWO TIMES i have used this that the appearance of that very line has decreased. needless to say, i ordered it today--i need to have this in my medicine cabinet, it's the perfect secret weapon.

get your own purity made simple now!

get your own microdelivery mini peel pads now!

lippy ka yay!

2006-12-04T18:11:00.000-05:00

it's no secret i am obsessed with lip products. lipsticks, lip shines, lip glosses--i want as many as possible, in every shade you can dream of. the thing about lip products is that no matter how pretty the shade is, it isn't going to look good if it's been applied on dry, flaky lips. that's just gross. between the cold weather and a dry apartment or office (both if you're really unlucky), chapped lips are practically unavoidable. Too Faced's Lip Injection Intensive Plumping Lip Mask conditions, softens and smoothes lips while plumping up your pucker's volume. i try to use this a couple of times a week and it really works!

get your own now!

on full alert

2006-11-28T16:29:00.000-05:00

getting up yesterday was harder than usual. maybe it was because of the long weekend or perhaps I was still in a thanksgiving-food coma. throw in the really warm apartment factor and getting up was a total nightmare. i was groggy, couldn’t focus and i desperately wanted to get back in my bed. instead i did the responsible thing and got in the shower. i bypassed all the yummy-smelling stuff and selected the Bare Escentuals Peppermint Shower Gel—i feel like i should add a little disclaimer that says i don’t work for the company, i just love their products because they are made of awesome—and it was absolutely the perfect choice. it was the perfect tingly feeling (I think the bliss one is too full-blast and if you leave it on too long, it hurts a little). so energizing and invigorating, I almost forgot to grab my morning coffee.

you can never have too many

2006-11-26T01:27:00.000-05:00

i am obsessed with beauty products, but the worst of it probably has to do with my desire to acquire as many lipsticks and glosses as humanly possible. if you saw the makeup bag i lug around every day you would probably faint and then judge how many lipsticks and glosses i carry with me EVERY SINGLE DAY. regardless of brand, color or my particular face that day, they all go in the bag. and this includes a couple of lip palettes too. if there was a serious world lipstick and gloss shortage or unexpected lip emergency, I am your girl. so you can imagine how I nearly swooned when I saw the LÉVRES MULTIFACETTES DE CHANEL—or CHANEL lip palette, for the rest of us. seriously. it’s gorgeous. perfect little squares filled with tempting shades of sinfully luxurious color.

get your own now!

the new twinkle in my eye...

2006-11-25T23:16:00.000-05:00

i think i love urban decay’s heavy metal glitter eyeliner so much i invent reasons to wear it. it will make me look wide-awake! it will put a gleam in my eye! it’s so damn pretty! (especially in pyrotechnics.) you can put it in the corner of your eyes for a little glitter, wear it alone or with your favorite eyeliner. i wear it out at night, i wear it to work, i even wear it when i need a little pick me up. sparkly things makes me happy. i’d been looking for something like this a while ago, but could only find glitter eyeliner in pencil form so I’d pretty much given up on a liquid version. then a few months ago, my friend JU told me about it and it’s been in rotation ever since. this will be especially pretty during the holidays when you want to rock that glittery, winter sprite look.

get your own now!

taking inventory

2006-11-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

if eyes are the windows to the soul, who wants to have a decaying facade? Not me. i am all about eye cream—use it religiously—and am always looking for one that works better than the last. personally, the creamier the better because I don’t like gels. i don’t think they are moisturizing enough. I like a heavy-duty cream, especially around the eyes where there is no moisture. i’d been using the prescriptives intensive rebuilding eye cream (free sample and then purchase) a while ago and really, really loved it. i am pretty sure it "eased" a little line i had under my eye, but i stopped using it during the day because it was slipping into my contacts (at night it is perfect though). the best part of this eye cream (aside from finding it in the bathroom all over again)? while i’d been rotating it out, it doesn’t seem like that little line has bounced back with a vengeance. which is very, very good. don't you hate when you stop using something and it seems like the apparent benefits of the product have completely disappeared? well, this is not the the case with the prescriptives intensive rebuilding eye cream.

i love that moment when you find something and you know that you are going to keep using it and it will be a definite repurchase or eventually become a holy grail. but there is something to be said about rotating products, trying something new and then rediscovering it all over again. it's like receiving a surprise phone call from an old friend and realizing how much you missed that person.

get your own now!

get in the shower!

2006-11-24T23:38:00.001-05:00

i hate getting up in the morning. HATE. GETTING. UP. not even the thought of my face of the day can get me out of bed. there's something about the comfort and safety of my bed that makes it impossible to get out of it cheerfully. thank goodness there's philosophy's 3-in-1 shower gels. i've been obsessed with these for longer than i can remember. a perennial fave is cinnamon buns, with its super rich lather and beyond delicious smell. right now i am in love with pumpkin pie--i always break this one out during the fall. it's so perfect for the season. it has an indescribable sweetness followed by a spicy, little kick. it's the perfect, tempting treat to lure you out of bed and energize your senses for the long, long day ahead.

get your own now!

2006-11-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

the first time

2006-11-24T23:09:00.001-05:00

the day lancôme discontinued beige esquisse rouge absolu was a sad, sad day. i don't remember much else about it except i was really, really angry and wondered how i was going to replace my favorite lipstick. i am a reasonable person, things like that shouldn't be so upsetting, but it was "THE FAVE." my friend K and i started calling it that because it was perfect and it went with any look; you could wear it with any eye shadow, you could pair it with a smokey eye or rosy cheeks. you could wear it to an interview or even use it on those casual, but still want to look polished days. "THE FAVE" was perfect (i know i said that already, but it's true). it was this beige-y, pinky color that looked good on everyone.

i think it's about this time that i realized i was a beauty junkie--that products were my crack. i've always been obsessed with products; thinking about what works, what doesn’t, what could work, what i want to try next. what i am dying to try next, actually. and I am always dying to try something new. i love to know what people are using, what is working for them and if people ask (let’s face it, even if they don’t), i love to tell them what i am using and what works for me. it's like being a kid in a candy store (actually, i think as a kid i might have preferred looking in my mom's makeup bag instead).

but the day i found out it was discontinued--i made it a practice to buy two or three at a time so i wouldn't have to worry about running out, which makes the whole thing a little bit ironic--something changed. it was like i had to go out and try even more things so i would never be blindsided if something i loved was discontinued. i'd be able to bounce back, ready with 2 or 3 products in my arsenal.

it's been years since "THE FAVE" was discontinued and i've been lucky to find some shades that have come pretty damn close to the perfect hue, which has taught me to not have beauty prejudices. the must-have product doesn't always have to break the bank to be perfect, but if it does, then it's certainly worth it!