unobtrusive at its best

There's nothing like sharing close quarters to heighten awareness of personal space.  From airplanes to cubicles, when you're over stressed and under rested it's the little things like food wrapper rustling that can really disrupt inner calm.

In my almost Dr. Lector-esque drive to maintain absolutely impeccable etiquette when confined with others, I've fallen in love with Naked Body Butter by Bliss.  This fragrance-free moisturizer is a miracle worker in dry climates and it won't interfere with your perfume or affect those around you in the slightest (those of you who suffered middle school through the Bath & Body Works sun ripened raspberry lotion fad know what I'm talking about).  It also works on windburned cheeks and flyaway hair in a pinch.  I received a travel size for my birthday as a part of Sephora's Beauty Insider program, but the full size is available for $35 at Sephora.  It's a bit of a splurge, but I'm definitely picking up a tube for my desk when I get my first job out of school, or for travel if they ever lift the restriction on liquids and gels.

white hot

If you read the beauty section of magazines religiously (as I do), you tend to pick up some of the universal tricks of the trade.  Applying eyeliner with a flat brush or a dab of highlighter on the cupid's bow of the lip, for example.  But the one I find a bit frustrating is the perpetual suggestion, often from celebrities, to use shimmery white eyeliner on the inner corner of the eye for an instant well-rested look, without a product recommendation to back it up (Glamour, I'm looking at you.)  So off to the mall I went yesterday, to find the easiest to use eye-opening liner and MAC Shadestick in Overcast was the clear choice in both categories.

This stick of cream shadow (shown above in Sea Me) is the perfect diameter to swipe over the tear duct (with eye closed) and across the inner half of the top lashes in one smooth motion.  Pat with a finger to blend and you're good to go.  And a bit of pearliness reflects the perfect amount of light so it never looks chalky or disco ball.  Available online and at MAC counters for $16.50, this product is a must if your eyes perpetually betray your exhaustion in the morning.

"Zen & the Art of Moisture Maintenance"

I'll be honest, I'm a little late to the yoga party and I'm not quite convinced it lives up to its hype.  While I enjoy all the variations on grabbing my leg behind my head, I need more than a little help "feeling my connection with the Earth Mother."  Enter Self Meditating body butter with rice bran oil and green tea from the True Blue Spa: Far East Escape collection at Bath & Body Works.

I tried this cream with as least as much skepticism as I did yoga- how many kinds of body butter does B&BW really need?  And isn't the Far East trend pretty much over?  This thick cream spreads on beautifully and moisturizes for hours like most body butters, but what sold me is the smell: sweet green tea with a hint of rose petals, reminiscent of Fresh's Memoirs of a Geisha limited edition fragrance.  While the scent can be a bit cloying at first, it mellows out and hangs softly on the skin within ten minutes.  I used this the other day before class, when I knew I was going to have a difficult time taking Downward Facing Dog seriously, and the scent of this cream really helped me turn off all the clatter in my brain and breathe.  Now that I've used this before pulling out my sticky mat a couple times, the scent even seems to help me fall a sleep more peacefully and I wake up with soft, beautifully scented skin- truly "Zen and the Art of Moisture Maintenance," as the back of the tub reads.  The added benefit of antioxidant-rich green tea and soothing rice bran oil make this a steal at $15.

Going Red: effortless bold

I've always wanted to love full-on red lipstick, but something about its retro Old-Hollywood glamour just isn't "me."  I had just about given up ever wearing anything but a red stain, balm, or gloss when NARS introduced Manhunt Lipstick as a part of Spring's Shanghai Lily collection.  While this shade is definitely not for the cosmetically shy, it's the most modern-meets-effortless reinvention of a classic like red lipstick I've seen a cosmetics company make in living memory.

Manhunt is set apart from other reds by its coral undertone, which unlike its blue and orange based compatriots will never turn fuchsia on you or make your teeth look yellow.  Described as a sheer poppy red on the NARS website, this shade is also probably the brightest color I've ever put on my lips.  While the almost neon quality of Manhunt is more than a bit intimidating at first, it brightened my whole face and somehow made my pale skin glow (read: not ruddy in any way).

I've had this lipstick for two weeks and it has become my go-to on early mornings, coupled with nothing more than a swipe of mascara, a bit of white highlighter on the inner corner of the eye, foundation, and a light dusting of golden bronzer on the apples of my cheeks.  Significant bonus: this shade is anything but high maintenance.  The lasting power is not only incredible, but the formula wears down comfortably and evenly into a beautiful reddish pinky coral stain.

 

Although pricey at $24, it's so utterly worth it to wake up exhausted, throw on a white sweater, be done with makeup in less than two minutes, and roll out the door looking incredible.

back from hiatus!

I do apologize for my lengthy absence, I've spent the last couple months cloistered in academia.  But now that spring semester is solidly under way and I'm back in journalism mode, I've got all sorts of new stress combatants and insta-beautifiers to share.  Stay tuned!

Dream Cream

I've spent the last three weeks studying like a rockstar instead of partying like one and it's been rough. About half way through writing an epic research paper last week my eyes had just about give up from me- achy from hours on the computer, and puffy from five hours of sleep a night.

Good thing my research took me to the Clinique counter at Lord & Taylor during free gift with purchase time! When I purchased a new tube of Clarifying Makeup foundation I received a mini jar of All About Eyes- the most fantastic item in my stress-combating arsenal to date.

I've had bad luck with every anti-aging eye cream I've tried, they all break me out. I took a chance on this one because it has caffeine to reduce puffiness and my puffiness was getting a little out of control. The sales associate recommended keeping this in the fridge, and I have to admit this dish is best served cold- its silky texture is instantly soothing. It has a non-greasy drydown to boot, which doesn't interfere with eye makeup while still giving skin some moisture. This is a far superior product to MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream, which packs a more serious caffeine content but is drying with daily use. I've been able to use All About Eyes sometimes four times a day for the past two weeks with no dryness, no breakout, no irritation, and no signs of bags under my eyes. Paired with soothing eye drops, mascara, and a bit of MAC's Luna cream color base on my browbone and my eyes look fresh and well rested. It seems a bit overpriced at $27.50 for a half ounce, but it only takes a small dab per eye for great results. The only problem is getting your friends to believe that you only got two hours of sleep.

Shop for the Cure 2007

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and tons of cosmetics companies have released limited edition items with proceeds benefiting breast cancer organizations.

Most of these items are luxe and best suited for personal rewards, but C.O. Bigelow's Shine for Life Mentha Lip Tint, available at Bath & Body Works for $7.50, is a fantastic gift for the ladies in your life.

The mentha lip products are wonderfully soothing and moisturizing, provide lovely shine, and the sheer tints are subtly pretty. There wasn't a tester available, but sheer pink doesn't easily go awry. Stock up now for holiday gifts to benefit the American Breast Cancer Foundation.

Breakfast at Lord & Taylor

Your mother might not wear that much makeup now (or maybe she's been rocking the same lipstick for ages). Don't let that fool you, she was around for some amazing moments in cosmetics history no matter how old she is.

Case in point: my mother rocked that incredible liquid liner and matte apricot lips of the late 1960s. As an homage to her, and because I inexplicably woke up in a totally Audrey Hepburn mood this morning, I took a trip over to Lord & Taylor first thing this morning.

My last experiment with liquid liner was in 1997 when my mom got me a tube from the drugstore for dance performances. It was a goopy brown with a sickly little brush that seemed to peel off in chunks a couple hours after application: in short, a total nightmare. I vowed that today I would find a liquid liner that would be easy to master and would take less than a minute to apply, with fantastic lasting power.

Lancome's Artliner completely fits the bill. I've been hearing good things about it for years, so it was at the top of my list. What sets it apart from its competitors is its felt tip, versus floppy brushes that splay and slide around on the lash line. I don't really have a steady hand, but I was able to nail the application of this on the first try.

The color selection is pretty great as well. My favorite is Brown, a gorgeous blackened brown with a sparkly sheen. Pale girls with very fair hair or the liquid liner phobic should check out Ice Carob, a pearly medium brown which gives you all of the shape and drama of liquid liner without any potential severity.

To nail the look:

-To insure lasting power, it always helps to prep your eyelid with Urban Decay Primer Potion.
-Dust a little shimmery nude powder all over your eyelid and on the inner tear duct to give contrast to the liner.
-Trace your lashes with a pencil liner before applying the liquid; it seems redundant, but it insures perfect coverage and your hand will be much steadier if you're tracing something.

The sales associate also shared a brilliant tip: after the liner dries, take a q-tip dipped in makeup remover or moisturizer and brush it in short upward strokes at the outer corner of the eye to shape the corners evenly and visually give the eye beautiful lift.

For advice on liquid liner from makeup artist Pat McGrath, check out pg 134 of October's Allure.

lewis black analogy + makeup? awesome.

My good friend from undergrad just sent me the most hilarious analogy regarding my Full'n'Soft recommendation:

"Took your advice and have started using Full 'n' Soft mascara-may never go back to anything else. Why oh why did I spend my years effing up my eyes with Great Lash, again? Lewis Black might call it the candy-corn of mascara"

The thing is, I started thinking about it and that analogy works-

-Great Lash, like candy corn, is made of heavy waxes
-Great Lash, like candy corn, is unnaturally pigmented

And just in time for Halloween!

Fall Crush 2007

It's just a few days into official autumn here in central New York, and I find myself completely in love with everything that has a vintage Alpine winter aesthetic. I think it started when I developed a muscle spasm from my neck into my shoulder blade and wrapped myself up in chunky knits and using big smears of Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Headache Relief massage cream all over my back.

Some current favorites: nutella on croissants or crepes, ricola original formula (not at the same time as nutella), a warm mug of hot whiskey, and one of the best classic Bond Films- "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"

But as it applies to beauty goodies, it's all about a staunch regimen of exfoliation and moisturization. Some favorites:


Lush Bohemian Soap: Lush products were a favorite when I stayed in hostels during my study abroad in Ireland (which lacks Alps but its winter certainly holds its own). This soap smells like limoncello, a more European alternative to tropical salt and sugar scrubs when paired with a stiff scrub brush.

Neutrogena Swiss Formula Hand Cream: I love this silky formula, it sinks in beautifully, instantly replenishes, and leaves a gorgeous not-too-oily buffed sheen on nails and cuticles.


Bourjois Baume de Nuit Night Lip Balm: I'd be lying if I said I've never bought a book just for the cover, and I am simply in love with this packaging. I haven't bought this balm yet, but it's on my Sephora list for when I head back to Oregon in December (Syracuse is tragically without a Sephora). On question though- if it's a night treatment, why on earth is it tinted? Regardless, the glossy pink shown in the photo will either be nonexistent on lips, turn them into luscious Bond Girl goodness, or will be an ugly spackl-esque disaster as so many pale tinted balms inevitably are.