magazines, we can tell

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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?

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!

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!

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?

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

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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...

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!

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!

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.