Quantcast

Posts Tagged ‘Beauty’

For Those Kinds Of Nights / Facial Cleansing Cloths

Q. I read your blog and decided to start using Cor soap because of your rave. I’ve never had anything even out my skin tone and make my skin feel so good. I even raved about it on my own blog.

Do you have any recommendation for facial cleansing wipes that might give me similar results for those few times it would be nice to wipe the makeup away and just go to bed?

- Ronja

A. Right?! Cor is just awesome. Ridiculously expensive, but – and I mean this – totally worth it. Both because of how well it works (full review here), and because it lasts forever. I’ve had the same bar now for so long that it’s starting to get weird (and if you just want to test the waters, those little sample size bars also last a bizarrely long time).

Anyway, I hear you on occasionally needing to keep emergency supplies by the bed for the nights when you are simply not moving in the direction of the sink. I keep a stash of Proactiv Makeup Removing Cloths ($15) in my drawer, and they’re great – very soft and thick, and get everything off without drying your skin or leaving residue.

Read about my Winter Skincare Solutions here.



You Might Also Like:


January 12th, 2012 | Beauty | 1 Comment »

Spotlight On: The Classics

A rundown of some absolute must-haves: any one of these items will instantly perk up a look, and they’re perennially stylish…making them perfect places to splurge a bit.

Red Handbag: More interesting than your standard black, red also goes with everything, and…it’s red. Which is fantastic. (Go for gold accents for bonus points). I wear my red purse constantly, and it makes even a loose t-shirt and jeans look instantly fashionable.

Pearl Earrings: Paired with a matching necklace they’re classic Good Girl…but mixed in with a slightly more rambunctious outfit and piled-on, mismatched jewelry on your neck and wrists, they’re unexpected and chic. I’ll do the former on occasion (above), but I’m obviously slightly more disposed towards the latter.

And good news, if you’re in the market for some pearls of your own: Mikimoto Pearls is hosting a Mikimoto Moments contest on Facebook where you can enter to win your own pearl strand and earrings.

Rugged(ish) Ankle Boots: The only time of year when you can’t wear these is in the dead heat of summer. They look gorgeous in the winter with a chunky sweater and denim, in the fall with patterned tights and a skirt, and in the spring with bare legs and sailor-style shorts.

And they’re everywhere right now: go for a lace-up pair with a chunky heel and some rugged detailing (but not too much…the point is to look like you’re maybe open to the idea of camping, not like you’re actually planning on embarking upon a woodland adventure right that very moment).

Oversized Sunglasses: Some people say it’s pretentious to wear sunglasses when it’s not summer. I say shush, mama has bags under her eyes and needs to find a way to look presentable and still get her brunchtime Bloody Mary. And while trends come and go, when it comes to an investment pair I like the idea of going for a classic shape with a little bit of a twist. For example, an oversized style with a tiny bit of a cat’s eye like the pair pictured above, or a Wayfarer shape with interesting detailing, in tortoiseshell or burgundy rather than black.

For some perfect takes on classics-with-a-twist, keep an eye out for GANT’s Spring 2012 offerings (launching in February) – I’m a huge fan of the line, and the stuff they have coming out is seriously awesome.

Perfect Nude Lipstick: When you find the one that works for you, buy a zillion, because the perfect pink-brown looks right for virtually any occasion, and will never fall out of fashion. Wear it out at night with a smoky eye (click here for a navy-and-gold eye tutorial), or during the day with just a swipe of mascara for a finished (but not fussy) look.

Well-made Pea Coat: I say “well-made” because if you pick up the right one you’ll wear it to work, to cocktails, and even over formal evening dresses…and there’s nothing sloppier-looking than a cheaply-made pea coat that has lost its shape. This has little to do with price – I had a gorgeous Trovata pea coat that quickly started looking lumpy all over the place, but because of the price tag I held onto it for years after it should have gone into the donate pile.

A good way to figure out if the pea coat you’re considering is good quality: check the lining. It should be free of lumps, bumps, and uneven stitching. Also, polyester blends are cheaper, but they may not last as well, so if you’re looking for a good investment piece go for wool or cashmere.

For more winter coat ideas, click here.

Unique Perfume: Women fall into two camps when it comes to perfume: those who have a signature scent, and those who play around with various things depending on the season and their mood. I have a handful of fragrances that I keep in rotation (although I always defect to Bond No. 9 Nuits de Noho, pictured above), but I literally never leave the house without a spritz (well, except for lately: I don’t want my perfume to bother the baby, so I’ve been sticking to lavender water spritzed in non-baby-touching spots like my back and legs these past couple of weeks).

For more on classic purchases, check out Wardrobe Basics: Finding Your Style.

Full product info after the jump.

(more…)



You Might Also Like:


November 4th, 2011 | Beauty, Best, Style | 8 Comments »

Mini-Preview / John Sahag Workshop Flat-Iron Curls

Above, a preview of a post going up later this week featuring three different looks, a brand-new RG sponsor that I’m so excited to introduce you to, and a bit of wardrobe rediscovery on my part. For the post, I also decided to get in a little fancy holiday-hair practice by styling my hair in flat-iron curls, using tips I picked up at John Sahag Workshop last January.

In case you missed the instructional video the first time around, here it is:

And click here for an extensive how-to with many more photos.

Remember, if you mention RG at John Sahag Workshop you get 10% off of a Keratin treatment with Doug (my color guy), and if you refer a friend you get $50 off of your next visit and they get $50 off of their first visit (click here to learn more about the referral program).



You Might Also Like:


October 31st, 2011 | Beauty | No Comments »

Little Luxuries: Eve Lom Cleanser

I’m big on relaxing nighttime routines: I give myself a good hour between turning off the TV or putting down my book and getting into bed, and use it to putter around the house and straighten up, do stretches, apply moisturizer head-to-toe, brush my hair, and play around with various face potions.

I wasn’t always this diligent about my beauty routine – the truth is that I used to forget to remove my makeup more often than not, and rarely achieved more than a cursory swipe with soap before falling into bed (Francesca, who lived with me in LA, can attest to this: she was frequently horror-struck by the sight of my smudgy, be-kohl-ed eyes at 8AM) – but as I get older, I feel more and more like those minutes I spend attending to my skin at night are important ones, both physically and mentally.

What I like about the Eve Lom cleanser is that it’s a process, and so it forces you to take a few minutes to yourself to chill out and get into a sleepy state of mind. It certainly generates its fair share of buzz (Vogue named it the #1 cleanser in the world), and with a multi-step application that approaches the level of ritual, it has all the hallmarks of a cult product. You start with a lymphatic drainage massage, then apply the cleanser (which is more like a paste), and then do kinda weird stuff like place muslin cloths over your face and inhale and exhale three times before wiping it off.

But in theory, since the product is cleanser, toner, makeup remover, exfoliator, and moisturizer all in one, you’re…saving time? Kind of? I don’t know about that, and the ritual is a little ridiculous, sure, but you know what? Ridiculousness in politics is maddening; ridiculousness in skincare products is therapeutic and fun. And it’s never a bad idea to take a minute at the end of the day to pay attention to your breathing and care for yourself. So.

Have any of you tried this stuff? Did you like it?

The full line of Eve Lom products is available at Space.NK. Product sample provided for review.



You Might Also Like:


October 13th, 2011 | Beauty | 5 Comments »

2-Minute Makeup: Navy & Gold Eye

One of my favorite looks for fall, the navy-and-gold eye can be worn subtly for day, or drama-ed up for night (just use a gold shadow with more sparkle, like NARS Silent Night), and go more heavy-handed with the navy).

2-Minute Makeup: Navy & Gold Eye

1. Apply a gold shadow with a little shimmer all over lid and up to brow bone.

2. Using a small brush, apply the same gold shadow under the lower lash line.

3. Using a wider brush, blend navy shadow into crease. Blend well, but don’t make the color too diffuse – you want the gold and the navy to be distinct from one another.

4. Using a small flat-tipped brush, apply a small amount of navy to outer corners of lower lash line.

5. Apply a thin line of black liquid liner (winged out at the ends, if desired).

6. Apply a thick gold pencil to inner corners of eyes to make them pop.

7. Mascara!

Products used in this video: 

Maybelline Eye Studio in Give Me Gold

NARS Matte Eyeshadow in China Blue

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland

Benefit Magic Ink Jet-Black Liquid Eyeliner

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black



You Might Also Like:


October 6th, 2011 | Beauty, Video | 10 Comments »

One Of My Favorite Things About Working From Home

Right now:

- My hair is soaked in an oil treatment

- I have on a mud mask

- There are white Kerstin Florian eye-depuffer stickers pasted under my eyes

- My eyelashes are coated with Talika Lipocils (a lengthening/strengthening treatment I’m testing out)

Oh, and I’m not wearing any pants.

In other words, I look like a total disaster. So: no picture. No no no.

Just saying: there are pros and cons, but the fact that no one can see this? A pro.

More:

2010 Beauty Discoveries

Best New Beauty Finds / Summer 2011

Best New Beauty Finds / Fall 2011



You Might Also Like:


September 26th, 2011 | Lifestyle | 9 Comments »

WEN by Chaz Dean

I rarely talk about products I don’t like – mostly because I don’t see the point; I’d rather tell you about things I recommend – but I get so many queries about the WEN by Chaz Dean line I thought I’d let you know my thoughts. And those thoughts are: eh.

WEN, for those of you unfamiliar with the products, is a non-lathering (soap-free) haircare line that’s sort of the anti-shampoo: it purports to eliminate the “harsh and damaging” chemicals and detergents found in other cleansers, thereby leaving your hair soft and healthy.

I ordered a box of products a couple of years ago on the enthusiastic recommendation of a friend, and kept it up for about three months (over the course of which I tried both the Sweet Almond Mint and Cucumber Aloe lines), and honestly, it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like the non-lathering formula – I never got that fresh-from-the-shower super-clean feeling – wasn’t a huge fan of the scents, felt like the packaging was a little flimsy and dated-looking (again, this was a couple of years ago; it might’ve changed), and really didn’t like that it seemed virtually impossible to cancel my “subscription” – box after box after box arrived in the mail in the coming months, and though repeated calls to the company ended up removing the charges from my credit card bill, it all made me a little nuts.

But I know that the stuff is billed as basically a miracle product for hair, so I’m wondering: what have those of you who’ve tried it thought of the line (or similar non-lathering haircare products)? Did you like it? Or were you as on the fence about the stuff as me?

Click here for my Best New Beauty Finds for Fall 2011.

Click here to read InsideMeLookingOut’s review of Hair One (a similar product).

 



You Might Also Like:


September 21st, 2011 | Play | 5 Comments »

« Older Entries