Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Mask

 

I’ve been using this mask for nearly a month and I have to say, it’s pure perfection! Oh Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Revealing Mask how I love thee. My skin can be fairly sensitive and it hasn’t caused any irritation, it leaves my skin exfoliated and glowing, and it helps to reduce the appearance of my large pores. I love the brush because it makes for a truly indulgent treatment minus the indulgent price at $42. Psssssst: at the NYC Caudalie Spa the 50 minute Vinoperfect treatment is $185.

Pretty Charming

One of the hottest ways to accessorize is with baubles that house beauty products, perfect for discrete touch-ups and girls on the go. Why not intermingle beauty and fashion? They go hand in hand and are a perfect pair. These items do tend to be available for only a limited time, and new favorites are always popping up each season.

1. Missoni Solid Perfume Charm Necklace, $50, Sephora.com: With notes like “Radiant Yellow Accord” (whatever that is), Bergamot, Magnolia, Mandarin, Bitter Orange, and Rose, this scent captures a perfect carefree summer day. The jewel-like orange and red crystals provide a burst of summer color in the middle of winter.

2. Juicy Loves Sephora Lip Gloss Heart Ring, $51 (originally $68), Sephora.com: I have been lusting over this ring for a while now. The pretty pink crystals and shiny sheer pink lip gloss calls out my name. Alas, a klutzy girl donning a large, jeweled cocktail ring is not particularly a good combo as I knock into everything. *Sigh* Maybe in my next lifetime….

3. Lady Dior Charm Radiant Couture Touch-Up For Cheeks and Lips, $75, Sephora.com:  Featuring a mirror, highlighter, and lip/cheek color, this faux leather accented handbag charm is a great way to touch up almost anywhere on the sly.

4. Marc Jacobs Daisy Solid Perfume Necklace, $35, Nordstrom and Sephora.com: Packaged in a circular gold zip case, the daisy necklace dangles on a black satin-esque cord, begging to be the conversation piece Du Jour. Not only is it a cute accessory, but slide the top over and the best selling daisy fragrance awaits in solid form to be swiped over your pulse points. You can adjust the necklace to any length, simply knot it at your desired length.

5. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Solid Perfume Necklace, $56, Sephora.com: Feminine charms on the outside, and an equally alluring floriental fragrance on the inside. The JPG fragrance is all about evoking classic elegance and femininity, so it’s no surprise this necklace is dainty while still making a bold statement. The notes of Orange Flower, Bulgarian Rose, Italian Mandarin, Star Aniseed, Ginger, Vanilla, and Amber make this accessory all that more special.

TheBalm TimeBalm Solid Foundation

The brand behind my most favorite concealer in the world has created TimeBalm foundation. Hooray! Packed with all of the great stuff that’s in the concealer, this “solid” foundation has vitamins A, C, and E to nourish the skin, it also has ingredients that help with eye-area aging. Basically, this is TheBalm concealer in larger packaging. A little goes a long way and it’s great for all skin types. For $28, you get triple the amount in the concealer pot, so this is a fantastic buy for your money.

It’s dreamy texture can go from light, medium, to full coverage with the more you layer on. It doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, and it actually seemed to help keep my oily skin in check, for at least an hour more then usual. I can see how the formula, like the concealer, is recommended for all skin types. It glides on smoothly enough for dry skins, and feels lighter then air for those on the combo or oily side.

The downside: it’s only offered in four shades. Hopefully, like the original concealer, more shades will be introduced as its popularity increases.

5 Simple Steps Men Can Take to Improve Their Skin

 Ladies also take note.

1. First, and most important, be consistent! The more you take care of your skin, the better it will look. Think of it like going to the gym: once a week won’t really do much for you but if you go daily, you’ll notice a real difference. It’s the same with your skin.

2. Cleanse your skin twice daily. If you are aiming for clearer skin, this is an important step to cleanse away dirt and oil.

3. Protect your skin by using an SPF of at least 15 and if you work outdoors, make sure to reapply every few hours.

4. Exfoliate! Not only will it help shed dull, dead skin cells, it will help any creams or lotions penetrate the skin more effectively. Some cleansers do double duty by exfoliating, so check the label. Look for BHA’s (or beta hydroxy acid) or anything that mentions exfoliation.

5. Hydrate your skin with a good moisturizer, preferably without an SPF in the product. A moisturizer sans SPF can be used in the AM and PM.

Shopping Tips:

While there are skincare brands that specifically cater to men, you can use any brand. There aren’t any “women only” brands, though quite often the packaging is designed to appeal to that market.

You don’t need to drop a lot of cash on your skincare routine. The age old debate of department/specialty store VS drug store products is a personal decision and neither is right or wrong.

Heads up: unlike drug stores, you will receive personalized help at a department store counter or store like Sephora then at a drug store, so if you have questions, they tend to be good places to start.

If you do have a Sephora in your area, you can make an appointment for a complimentary consultation. This is a free session (usually a few minutes in length up to a half hour) where a skincare expert can demo the products on your skin, help establish a routine that fits your skincare needs and lifestyle, and they can answer any questions you may have. You can check their website (www.sephora.com) to find store locations.

If you need a few items at once, are trying a new brand,  or are just starting out using skincare, gift sets and travel packs are a great way to try products out. They are often smaller then full size items and can help you figure out what you like best. They also tend to be great values for your money.

Some department store counters charge for consults, so be sure to check prices. Sometimes the cost of the consult is redeemable in products.

You can also walk up to any counter or store at any time and they should be able to help you find products right for you if you are short on time. This should be free and quick (under five minutes).

If you feel pressured to buy something and aren’t ready to commit, see if you can take home a sample of the product to try first. Some places sample generously and some don’t.

If heading to the drug store, most brands have packaging on the box that will tell you what they do (i.e.: cleanser for oily skin or moisturizer for all skin types).

The New Anastasia Brow Kit

 

Anastasia, the brow guru of the 90210 zip code, has come out with yet another brow product I adore. This one’s packed with three brow powders and three highlighters. The Highlighting Eyebrow Kit is $32 and also includes a mini clear eyebrow gel.

The brow powder is designed to be used like this: brush one of the lighter hues on the inner brow and finish the end (or “tail”) of the brow with a darker one, making sure to also accentuate the arch. This method creates a multidimensional natural looking brow by using a few shades when most people use one, resulting in a harsh, unnatural brow. Go easy on the powder! A little goes a long way so load up your brush with just a bit first and brush on more powder if needed.

The shimmery highlighter trio is baked for smooth application. You can use these for the intended purpose of highlighting your brow bone (the area under directly under your eyebrow) or as eyeshadow. You can also do a smokey eye by using the darker brow powder as shadow, brushing it on your lid and into your crease, then taking your favorite highlight color and blending upwards, creating a smokey effect.

The set also includes a mini clear eyebrow gel that can be used after brow powder or alone to keep your brow hairs in place. As a quick fix, sometimes I use mine to keep flyway hairs on my mane tame if I don’t have hair gel or hairspray handy.

The Virtue of Patience + What You Can Do to Improve Waiting Times

The value of having patience in today’s economy is priceless. Consumers and clients are certainly feeling the pinch as companies have to scale back their employees hours and even resort to layoffs. This means longer lines and waiting times because there are less staff on-hand.

While there’s not much  we can do about these cut backs, we can be patient. We can sympathize with them because we know what it’s like to be stressed out and feel like we’re being pulled in 90 different directions. We can be courteous, kind, and wait with a smile.

Staff decreases are not going away anytime soon and we can help the people helping us by being patient. There is no sense in stomping off, getting angry, or irritated. You can catch more flies with honey then with vinegar. If you are courteous to the person helping you, chances are, they will remember you next time and help you out with a smile and might even go above and beyond. If you are grumpy, rude, or obnoxious, they will also most likely remember you and will keep a mental note of that for next time.

Things you can do to improve your waiting time:

-Be patient!

-Wait your turn. Cutting in line angers those behind you. Also, know where the line begins and ends. If there is more then one line, make sure you are in the correct one. Not sure? Ask someone.

-Make an appointment and be at least 15 minutes early. At some places, like DMV, you can book an appointment online.

-Get there early, when most people have not yet arrived. If you’re early, you’re on time and if you are on time, you’re late.

-If your business can be handled over the phone, call early on in the day. If you are calling, the best time to call is Monday mornings, the worst is on Friday close to when the business closes.

-Call to put something on hold so you don’t have to find it when you arrive.

-Put things back where they belong or notify an employee if you don’t know where it goes. When filling out a form in an office or at the doctor, they usually provide you with a clipboard and a pen. Make sure you return both when finished.

-For your own sanity (as well as the sanity of others), leave the kids with a sitter.

-Put your cell phone and blue tooth away! It’s extraordinarily rude to chat on the phone while someone is helping you fill out paperwork or ringing your sale through.

-If you will be waiting for a while, bring a book or notebook to keep yourself busy.

And lastly, go with the flow and don’t stress out. Staffing is going to be tight for a while, and the sooner you realize and accept it, the better. There will be lines and waiting periods, and it is what it is.

My Papa used to sing, “Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry. When you are impatient, you only start to worry. Think of all the times that others had to wait for you.”

I’m a beauty VIP, are you?

Let me just yell for all to hear (er, read): I LOVE SEPHORA BEAUTY INSIDER!<–That’s shouting in Internet-land.

In the past, I learned my lesson when it came to reward cards: I didn’t use my points within a certain time frame, I only shopped at store X a few times a year and my points went to point heaven, or there was some fee after the salesperson got you excited about the program.

NOT Sephora beauty insider! Your points never, ever expire and continue to add up over time, it’s totally and completely free, and it’s super quick to sign up in store or online. Perks include a free birthday gift (it’s preselected for the program), deluxe sample gifts for every hundred points you earn (the equivalent of $100), the 411 about new products sent to their email inbox, plus last year there were some pretty sweet emails sent out with amazing offers that Sephora has never done before! You can also purchase things that commoners (those who aren’t Beauty Insider VIP’s) can’t, AKA beauty insider exclusive items.

And check it out: there’s even a special birthday gift for the gentlemen who sign up.

Go sign up ASAP to start reaping the rewards! If you sign up online, you won’t get a card and you can get one the next time you stop off at a store.

http://www.sephora.com/beautyinsider/

*EDIT*  I’m now a VIB (aka very important beauty insider) which means I get special deluxe samples and gifts. You can be one, too! Just spend $350 in a calender year at any Sephora store and/or online. I’d rather NOT know how much I spend in a year there. Yikes!

The Queen of Hearts Breakfast Thoughts

Be a grown up modern-day Alice in these aqua-blue hued dresses and Alice-inspired accessories: Jacquard print dress, warehouse.co.uk; Headband with large bow, topshop.com; Tarina Tarantino Chesire Cat earrings, zappos.com; Danica dress, Delias.com

Wallet-friendly products

If you have the urge to plunk down some hard earned cash on beauty loot but can’t afford higher end cosmetics, check out your local drug store. There are some hidden gem’s among the countless isles. Also, many private label brands at luxury beauty stores are reasonably priced and good quality so do check them out instead of passing them up.

1. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush lip glosses, currently 2 for $12 or 5 for $20. Sheer color, smooth, tasty, everything a girl wants in her gloss, and a good deal!

2. Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof eye pencil, $8 each. Flashy Brown and Flashy Copper are my personal faves. They glide right on without pulling or tugging and they wear for hours without smudging. Tip: the color Flashy Blue is a dupe of Urban Decay’s Electric liner, which is twice the price.

3. Sephora Blush Me! mono blush, $10 each. My favorite hues on a variety of skin tones is Corail Frisson and Abricot Plaisir. If you layer the two together, almost equals the color of Nars Orgasm. Insider info: Abricot Plaisir was a hit at Fashion Week Live Backstage 2007!

4. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails polish in Blue It, $3-$7, depending on store. Sally Hansen is my drug store go-to for nail polish, and they have a great range of colors from blue to pinks to nudes. Many times you can find discounts on shades that are being DC’d.

5. Wet N Wild MegaEyes Shadow Pot in Wicked, under $4, not available at all stores. If I’m in a bind and need to have a smokey color asap, I usually turn to Wet N Wild’s Wicked. At that price, I usually give it to my client to keep so they can recreate the look later.

6. Jane Kabuki Brush, $5, see janecosmetics.com store locator for where to buy. I like this brush for bronzers and pressed powder. Works best with a small amount of product and light hand.

7. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, around $5. If I’ve forgotten my disposable mascara wands on a job (I’m human, it happens!) I go for Great Lash. It’s inexpensive, adds volume without clumping, and also comes in a water proof formula. Plus, I can get it at any drug store.

8. Cover Girl Eye Enhancers eye shadow, see stores for pricing. These are great for trying out trendy colors that will be out next season. I love that the colors are coordinated and blend fairly easy.

Pre-Spring Beauty

As all of the major cosmetics lines debut the new trends for Spring 2009, I won’t forget about my old tried and true standbys. They are things that I simply could not live without and work for most everyone.

1. Opi’s Strawberry Margarita nail polish is my perfect pink. I usually sport clear polish and this is my go to when I need a little color. It’s also a great pedicure shade year round.

2. Korres lip butter in Pomegranate gives a lovely hint of coral to the lips while hydrating. I’ve tried it on several skin tones and it looks fab on just about everyone. I also love it under a sheer peach lip gloss.

3. In the mood for a sweet, fresh, soft candle? Look no further then Fresh’s Sugar Lychee scented candle. This scent also features the fragrance of lotus and grapefruit. Yum!

4. Nars Multiple in Orgasm gives you a fresh peachy-pink glow in one swipe. You can use it on your cheeks, eyes, and lips for a quick monochromatic look in seconds. It has just enough shimmer to make you look dewy, not glittery. Take caution: a little goes a long way and don’t forget to blend.

5. Stila’s eyeshadow duo in Lilly is a great way to transition your fall/winter shadows into spring. Both shadows are sheer and look great mixed with browns. I especially love the peach color paired with simple black liner and a lightly defined crease.

6. One of my favorite blushes to brighten dull winter complexions is LORAC’s Cheek Stamp in Hibiscus. The innovative packaging features a pan of the sheer pink blush on one end and a “stamp” sponge on the other end. It’s designed to press the stamp directly on the cheek and blend with a brush or fingers. My favorite application trick is to take a fan brush and lightly dust over the apples of your cheeks. The product lasts a long time, too. I’ve had mine for nearly two years and with almost daily use am just hitting the bottom of the pan.