to me, the short dark nail is one of the sexiest looks your ten digits can carry. last season, sephora by opi lightened things up with the instant cult fave, metro chic, and this year, they’re wowing beauty junkies with their latest addition, dark room. this almost black, creamy midnight green flatters the fairest complexions and is surprisingly wearable. i really like the twist on plain-old played out black and am totally enjoying this $9 blackened teal.
this is is full on glamour. not a lipstick (i still stand by my aforementioned protest) but a tinted treatment. built on the age-old concept of stimulating lips to stain them a juicy transparent red, medieval is chic and comfortable thanks to an infusion of vitamin e. this product is in a league of its own leaving behind a subtle flush reminiscent of snow white’s rosebud lips with a glossy sheen. best of all, it’s mirror-optional and looks different on everyone.
i don’t need tim gunn to tell me that $175 of cargo’s cosmetic goodness in one $49 palette is one look that’s too good to pass up. this new kit from sephora is not only totally adorable (get a load of those button-shaped shadows!), it’s fully functional. let’s start with the smoky-eye gray palette in the center with each of its perfect stripes labeled – browbone, lid, crease, outer corner – to turn you into an instant artist. also included are three cable-knit textured blushes and two strips of bronzer in medium to create endless combinations of pretty sculpted cheeks. top it all off with six shadows in trendsetting tones and voila! it’s like you stepped right out of the l’oreal paris makeup room.
over a weekend chat with one of my lovely besties, i got hooked on the idea of watching one episode of everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure, melrose place. i instantly regretted that decision, but came around when minutes into my mp experience, i watched ashlee simpson apply a gorgeous lippie from lancome that i knew just had to be mine. glossy ballerina lips a la hayden are so very in for fall and as a recovering (er, relapsing) former juicy tubes junkie, let me tell you that this pretty pink is top notch. lancome offers two jt formulas – jelly and smoothie. spring garden, above, is of the smoothie variety which offers medium coverage that’s not too midday board meeting and not too highschool dance. brava!
it’s a good thing candy corn is only available this time of year, because i’m certain i would send myself into sugar shock if it were on shelves all the time (kind of like cadbury cream eggs … mmm … ok, yes, my sweet tooth is deadly). since i’m on the bride diet and all, i’m refraining from those tiny tri-colored triangles this season, but thankfully i can enjoy the sweet scent of candy corn in the shower with philosophy’s latest addition to its 3-in-1 collection, i love candy corn. philosophy 3-in-1 gels are more than just a tasty treat for the senses. tucked inside these deliciously oversized bottles is a miraculous formula that acts as a high-foaming shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath. amaze! so, you’ve been warned and if i smell like my favorite fall treat from now until christmas, now you know why.
sundays are good for more than just football. once a week, i deep clean and condition the locks, give myself a one-minute facial, and treat my pucker to a little exfoliation restoration a la korres’ lemon lip scrub, the most effective lip treatment i’ve found. it’s 100% natural and also super easy to use: just apply (i love that it’s a stick and that there’s nothing to slough on with your finger), rub lips together to break up dry, chapped skin, and tissue off. the rice powder resurfaces lippies leaving them primed for softening lip butter in your color of choice. now, if i can only get my guy to take note and follow suit…
the leaves are falling in our nation’s capital and it’s time for me to switch from a light, mattifying moisturizer to one that nourishes and soothes my tight, super-sensitive skin. i’ve been testing a small army of skincare to find the perfect storm and i think i’ve discovered eden with fresh’s soy face cream. this velvety lotion glides on without clogging pores and its rockstar combination of vitamins and active ingredients actually renew skin to create a more supple, healthy glow. also worth noting: its intoxicating spa-like scent (thanks to an infusion of rosewater) and its amino acids which continually hydrate throughout the day keeping my face smooth and soft, yet never greasy. at under $40 for a generous tube, fresh has got gold on its hands with this one.
yes, i know. i am solid perfume obsessed. BUT there are reasons for that: a) they are cheap cheap and for a fickle beauty junkie like yours truly, this is a major selling point. b) you can blend them together and create new scents all the time which adds to the bang-for-your buck feature and is just plain fun. c) they are muy travel friendly since the 3 oz liquid rule need not apply and they are spill-proof (just keep them out of the hot sun, yes?). the list goes on, but i digress. i’m really here to introduce you to a lovely line of solids called melange (melanger is french for to mix). they come in four fun flavors and you must check out this totally inspiring blending guide. melange actually encourages its wearers to create custom blends and submit them for web consideration. i’m a fan of any brand that lets you play and be creative, so welcome to the glossarie, melange. we’re so happy you’re here.
clinique has announced that a dozen of their existing lipstick shades in various formulas have smile brightening abilities. several companies have gone so far as to pair their glosses with a product like britesmile or market lippies that give the illusion of whiter teeth. the smarties at clinique simply selected their current shades that provide the most contrast to teeth (thanks to blue undertones) resulting in a brighter, whiter smile. genius! my personal favorites are high impact lip color in after party and color surge butter shine lipstick in pink-a-boo (both already in my makeup drawer and tragically underutilized due to my previously admitted shame.) nice to know that it doesn’t take a fancy shmancy innovation or a pricey pricetag to shine up that grin!
i just adore these cheeky little pocket mirrors from best-loved tokyomilk. there are more than a dozen to choose from at $8 a piece. my chosen faves are the graphic bird (above) and the king crown. in the words of gretchen wieners, so fetch.
