Trend vs Style

I recently read something to the effect of: Trends are fun for a short time, but Style is forever. Trends go in and out of fashion constantly, but true style is timeless. Take, for instance, Grace Kelly. Fifty years later and she's still fashionable and current. This really made me think about all the time, money, and energy I spend on current trends in both fashion and beauty. As I get older and am more comfortable with myself I notice I care less and less about what's "In".

To make a long story short, I'm going to be branching out on the focus of my blog. Yes, purple eyeshadow is fun every once in a while, but finding what works for me and sticking with it is more important to me now. All the make-up in the world is no match for the inner glow of someone truly comfortable with themselves.

To Bag, Or Not To Bag?

I have so many cute makeup bags from gift-with-purchases that I refuse to buy them; however, I may make an exception for this Becca leather pouch. Made of soft Italian leather, it's small enough to fit perfectly into a handbag for on-the-go touchups, and the rich reddish-brown color is ideal for Fall and Winter. More than the bag, I am just dying to get my hands on the adorable key chain attached to the zipper closure.

Full On 80's Make Up

With all the new color collections that have come out recently nothing has really knocked my socks off, but I love the full-face makeup that designers are leaning towards. Dark eyes and lips? It's nearly scandalous after the beachy, carefree look that's been around the past few years. I'm excited about this trend. It's the only 80's look that I'm really embracing. I am totally going to be rocking the Robert Palmer Girl look on weekends this fall. Can't wait!

Breakout Central

About six weeks ago my normally oily skin decided to completely break out. I went from an occasional breakout to a 'beard' of acne--terrible cyst-like pimples on my chin and around my mouth. Having a bad hair day or an embarrassing sunburn is nothing compared to the distress I've felt at my face; it has completely destroyed my self confidence. On top of the acne, my lips are terribly chapped and peeling. I'm truly at a loss on how to handle this. I've tried a lot of products, but this acne seems to be more of an internal issue that my body won't let me get rid of. I haven't even wanted to leave the house, let alone post comments on beauty products. It took me almost a week to motivate myself to write this post.
If you've never had bad acne I'm sure this will seem very dramatic; I've always had pretty good skin and before this I would have scoffed at anyone that wouldn't want to leave the house because of their skin. It would have seemed ridiculous. But now I know better. I'll keep you updated on skin situation, but for the near future there won't be many posts on skincare products.
I have tried some great hair products lately, so stay tuned for those reviews!

Today's Deals and Steals

The fabulous Gilt Groupe is having a great sale on Tarte Cosmetics. Sale starts right now, so sign in and check it out.

Sephora has started a program that rewards their 'big spenders' by sending offers for promotions and freebies. If you're not a VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) you can still take advantage of their latest special by entering code VIBKVD at checkout. This code will send you a free early access to test samples of Kat Von D's fragrance set, Saint and Sinner.

Attention Shoppers: Gilt without the Guilt

There is a great sale on Perricone MD (Cleanse and Tone duo for $32-regularly $76) and Warren Tricomi (mini flat iron and calming serum for $58--regularly $118) on Gilt right now. As it's an invite-only site, click here if you're yet not a member and sign up for some great discounts!!!

Best Beauty Bargain

In my top 5 products that I can't live without, Q-tips definitely make the list. It's one of those products that you use everyday but don't really think about. I use Q-tips to smudge liner and shadows, apply blemish cream, and fix mascara mistakes; there are truly dozens of uses for them. Q-tips has just launched a campaign promoting their swabs as the 'Ultimate Beauty Tool,' and is backed my famed make-up artists Mally Roncal and Troy Jensen. In addition, they've completely revamped their packaging, coming out with colorful boxes that can be kept on your vanity for easy access. At $3.19 for a box of 285, this is about the best beauty bargain out there.

Sorry...

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately, but thank you so much for all the emails that you've been sending. Everything is fine, I've just been extremely busy with work--the work that financially supports my beauty habit (and rent). I promise I'll start posting again next week--I have tons of new products to discuss. Thanks so much for continuing to read my blog and support me! xoxxlinds

The Big Chill

I live in a studio, and one of the best perks is that it's convenient for me to put my gels and creams in the refrigerator. There is something so refreshing about slathering my face and body in cool creams on a warm day, not to mention the great results I get with puffiness when I apply eye gel. I don't have one product that works the best, they all feel great straight from the fridge. If you haven't tried this before I highly recommend it; especially as we near summer. Just make sure your roommate doesn't mistakenly think it's food...

Kai: A Tropical Vacation in a Bottle

As a follow up to their candle, kai has released a Room and Linen Spray in their cult-favorite scent. The kai room/linen spray comes packaged in an exquisite Italian glass bottle with a fine-mist pump. The exotic scent of kai’s signature perfume oil is delicately blended into a water-based home fragrance that is safe for furniture and linens, and will fill your home with the aura of kai--imagine a permanent tropical vacation. Can't wait to use it; this is perfect for hot summer days!

NOTE: Purchase $30 or more at b-glowing & receive a trio sample set of the 3 Infusion Organique Home Ambiance & body products in Buddha's Fig, Sands of Morocco & Indochine. Enter code INFUSION at checkout. Offer good through 5/4/09.

What's Blue, Sticky, and Doesn't Work?

The Product: Kiehl's Drawing Paste

The Claim: A gentle yet effective drawing aid for the control of surface oiliness and for the maintenance of skin integrity. Recommended for problem areas. Controls surface oil without over-drying. Chamomile extract gives natural blue/green color. Made with Calendula, Kaolin and Zinc Oxide.

The Results: Um...I don't even know where to start with this product. I guess my biggest complaint would be that it never dries. Ever. The first night I didn't realize it, and woke up with my pillow and sheets blue. I love Kiehl's products, so I decided to keep trying it. After that first night I would use it as a spot treatment mask and then wipe it off before going to bed, but it didn't make any difference. Basically, it smells bad, it's bright blue, and it doesn't work. End of story.

Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse

The Product: Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse in Clean Mint

The Claim: Rinse your way to a whiter smile with LISTERINE® WHITENING® Pre-Brush Rinse. Rising before you brush means a brighter, more confident smile. It's that easy. The dynamic foaming action of LISTERINE® WHITENING® bursts into action, penetrating teeth to help prevent stain buildup and whiten your smile. And because it's from the makers of LISTERINE® Antiseptic, it kills bad breath germs, too.

The Results: I think this product works great, and I noticed a difference in the whiteness of my teeth after about a month. It's perfect for in-between my teeth whitening strips. The flavor is not too strong like a lot of Listerine products, so it's bearable for the 60 seconds of swishing. The only drawback for me was that it leaves a film on the inside of my cheeks when I wake up in the morning. It's not bad, it's just kind of gross.

Mascara Search

I am on the hunt for a great, yet inexpensive, mascara. Over the next few weeks I'll be trying some out and reviewing them, but if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments section or email me. I want to find one that I love as much as my Lancome mascara, but is available at the drugstore.

Return to Origins Program

Origins is introducing a recycling program the end of the month and I hope it's a great success! Truth be told, I never recycle my cosmetic products--I don't even think about it, but I'm definitely going to start now.

-Everyday packaging accounts for approximately 1/3 of all landfill waste.
-Most community recyclers only take items made from materials that are easily recognized - such as soda and water bottles.
-Cosmetic and toiletry bottles, tubes, caps and jars among those items not easily recognized and therefore not often recycled.

"Starting March 29, 2009, bring your empty cosmetic tubes, bottles and jars, etc. - regardless of brand - to your nearest Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide [excludes Nordstrom]. All returned packaging will be sent back to a central location where products will be recycled or used for energy recovery. In an industry first, Origins will accept packaging from any cosmetic company regardless of the manufacturer. We believe that the more we collect from consumers, the more we can keep cosmetic packaging out of landfills. And we hope this program will encourage other companies into following our example. To thank you for joining us in our commitment to the environment, we’ll treat you to a FREE deluxe sample of your choice of one of Origins high-performance skincare products."

If you live in Los Angeles or New York so may want to visit their Recycling Event on April 2nd. Click here for more details.

Big Night Out

If I'm going to an event, or just in the mood to get dressed up, I like to try new looks. For inspiration I'll come through years of past makeup photos from Allure magazine. Each look includes a simple how-to guide with printable directions and color suggestions.

For hair inspiration, I look through Bumble and Bumble's Style Book. Photos are separated by hair length, and each image includes a how-to along with recommended products to get the look.

Photo: Michael Thompson

Smooth Silky Lips

Laura Geller's Lip Strip is an essential step in my winter routine. I get horribly chapped lips, and this exfoliant, formulated with organic sugar cane granules, smooth the uneven texture and moisturize my lips. The sugar cane, mixed with the peppermint and spearmint oils, leave a sweet taste on my lips that I love. To use, just dip a fingertip into scrub and massage over lips in a circular motion for about half a minute, then rinse off with water.

Customer Service Is Alive And Well

A quick story about the highlight of my weekend: I was going to throw my Zeno away (I just couldn't stand looking at it after such a bad experience), but a friend of mine told me I could return it to Sephora even though I had used it. Skeptical, I printed out the online receipt from when I bought it last summer and took it into the store. No questions asked, they gave me a full refund. I couldn't believe it; talk about amazing customer service! I already loved Sephora, but this just reinforced my near-obsession with this company. Thank you, Sephora!

In related news, this could end up being a bad discovery because now I'm not going to be afraid to 'buy and try' new products.

Superbowl Review--Jennifer Hudson

Watching Jennifer Hudson's triumphant return to the public eye after so much tragedy last year brought tears to my eyes. She has never looked more beautiful or sounded better. Outfit? Classy and chic. Make-up? Flawless. It was truly inspiring to watch her performance, and I hope for nothing but the best for her this coming year.


*Photo courtesy of Access Hollywood

Forget the Genie...try Model in a Bottle

Model in a Bottle spray is a MUST for me before a night on the town, as many of my friends can attest; I force everyone to try it if they happen to be getting ready with me. It's a mist that you spray on your face after all your makeup is done. After it dries, skin is left with a matte look. My friend J describes it as hairspray for your face. It keeps oil from coming back later in the evening, which is essential.



NOTE: Close eyes and mouth and hold your breath before you spray--there's a high alcohol content in it.

A Massage for your Valentine

I get really excited around Valentine's Day because everything comes out in pink, so be prepared for a lot of girly pink items in the next few weeks. First up: Booty Parlor's Don't Stop Massage Candle. What a cute idea for Valentine's Day! A cute pink and black bow tie around the white glass holder with pour spout. The blend of natural soy wax, vitamins A & E, jojoba, olive and coconut oils soften the skin. A 46 hour burn time ensures that you have plenty of time to enjoy the candle and the massage.

To use: let wick burn until the entire surface of the candle has liquefied into a perfect pool of massage oil. Blow out the flame and use the pour spout to drizzle the warm wax onto bare skin. Massage and enjoy!