winning combos

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.

the show's over

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.

the perfect shade

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!

new year, bad skin.

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.

the first time

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!