Tag Archives: beauty blog

March favorites: Makeup, perfume, music and more

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IMG_3937Hello, friends. I’m sorry I’m late with my monthly favorites — March was crazy busy and April is shaping up to be more of the same. Work is speeding up and I have several writing projects to complete before my husband and I head out for  Ft. Lauderdale and on to Jamaica on the 23rd. We do the commuter thing — he works in Texas and I work in South Carolina — so it will be nice to be together for some relaxation and adventure.

Let’s get down to what was big in my world of beauty, fashion, television and music in March. First, the fashion trend I’m loving: lace and pastels. Of course, lace must be worn in moderation lest one cross into Little Bo Peep territory, and pastels aren’t for everyone. I just happen to have the coloring that works with pastels so I’m going to enjoy the trend while it lasts.

Now, let’s talk makeup. The big news in the beauty world was, of course, the launch of the latest Too Faced palette: Sweet Peach. I was out of the country when it hit stores and returned to find it was sold out everywhere. I finally found it at my local Ulta and I’m so glad I did. It smells like one of my two favorite fruits (peaches, of course) and features 18 pretty shades ranging from light (White Peach) to dark (Talk Derby to Me). Mixed in with the peach tones are a nice green, a black, a burgundy and some nice browns and golds to use as transition colors and highlights. If you can find a Sweet Peach Palette, grab it. The Too Faced site is out of them and I understand there are no plans to restock. It’s also currently out of stock online at Ulta and Sephora, but keep checking — and also check your local brick-and-mortar stores. It’s a limited edition palette, so don’t hesitate for too long. And now, on to my other cosmetic favorites:

  • Vitabath Body Wash — I love these sulfate- and paraben-free washes that are infused with antioxidant-rich elements such as acai, goji, pomegranate, green tea and coffee. They also contain skin-conditioning nutrients such as Vitamin A, B3, C , E and B5. And the scents? Incredible! My favorite is Pomegranate & Blood Orange, which I just repurchased along with several other scents. Vitabath Body Wash isn’t expensive, either. A  12-ounce bottle is $7.99 at Ulta and there’s a sale going on now: buy two and get one free.
  • Schwing Black Liquid Eyeliner by The Balm — I always have a couple of spare, unopened boxes of this inky black eyeliner that makes it super-easy to create a sharp wing. I usually buy mine at HauteLook.com, where they can be had fairly regularly for a considerable discount.
  • Bobbi Brown Shimmer Blush in Pink Sugar — Quite simply, a pretty, rosy pink with a little (but not too much) shimmer. It’s not glittery in any way and looks great on sun-warmed skin.
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam — Make those cheekbones — and anywhere else you want to highlight — glow with four pretty shades ranging from golden to peach to tan. Again, especially nice when you have a summer glow.
  • Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Summer — I am a burner (the last time I had a real tan was when I left California after ninth grade). Fortunately, I can fake it with this pretty bronzer. Sometimes I apply it to my full face, but I most often use it to contour my cheeks, forehead and jawline.
  • Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Dusty Pink — This is a gorgeous, creamy, muted pink lipstick that works perfectly on my fair skin. It makes my lips look plump and pretty and the chubby-pencil applicator makes it easy to both line and fill in your pout. I have several other Art Sticks and they’re all nice. Surprisingly, at least to me, Hot Orange is one of my go-tos in the summertime.
  • Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Clara — The Le Marc Lip Creme formula is hands down my favorite. Quite frankly, it makes my lips look prettier, poutier and puffier than any other. Clara is gorgeous: a bright, sunny, not-quite-fuchsia to die for.
  • Dr. Jart Liftra Contour Fixer — I tried this on a whim and fell in love. I use it as a setting spray and it really does firm my skin. I plan to purchase the Dr. Jart contour cream and roller tool to see if I can get even better results.
  • Red Cherry lashes — These wispy wonders are my favorites. They’re inexpensive on amazon.com and easy to apply due to their thin, flexible band.

I smell wonderful! 

When the seasons change, my scents change with them. It’s already warm in South Carolina — my roses are starting to bloom — so that means it’s time for summer perfumes. Here is my current top three (although I’m yearning to add Dolce & Gabbana’s new Rosa Excelsa to the lineup):

  • Bobbi Brown Beach — Yep, it smells just like a day at the beach with its blend of jasmine, sea spray and mandarin. I use both the eu de parfum and the sultry, sexy body oil.
  • Escada Agua Del Sol — Beachy, but not a literal beach scent like the Bobbi Brown. It’s more like a warm, tropical island with its notes of mandarin, apricot nectar and sandalwood.
  • Jo Malone Orange Blossom — A few years ago, my husband and I visited Italy when the orange trees were in bloom. I’d never smelled anything so delicious and never have since. This scent is the closest I’ve come to that experience, thanks to its primary notes of clementine flower, orange blossom and water-lily.

This and that …

IMG_0152I thought I’d close out my March favorites with a few odds and ends I’ve been loving. First, there’s my cherry iPhone case. I earlier mentioned that I have two favorite fruits — peach is one, cherries are the other. And watermelon. I love watermelon. Anyway, I don’t spend a lot on iPhone cases because I like to switch them out. My cherries case is adorable and I paid like $8 for it on Amazon.

I also watched a couple of good movies this month. One was “Spotlight.” As a former reporter, I very much like movies set in newsrooms and this one was extremely realistic. My other favorite was “Brooklyn,” which features Saoirse Ronan as an Irish girl immigrating to 1950s New York. It’s a sweet love story and one worth watching.

On the television side, I’ve just watched the first two episodes of the new Starz series, “The Girlfriend Experiment.” It stars Elvis’ granddaughter, Riley Keough, as a law student/call girl. Don’t watch this one with kids around because it is very, very explicit. And hot. Very, very hot. So hot it will make you feel hot. The new season of AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” starts tonight, after a heart-wrenching cliffhanger on last week’s season-ending episode of “The Walking Dead.” I’m also hooked on the History Channel’s “Vikings” and can’t wait until the new season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” begins on the 24th.

Lastly, let’s talk music. I bought a new, yellow Fiat in November and it came with a year of Sirius FM. I spend a lot of time on the “70s on 7” channel. When I pull out my iPod, these are the songs I’ve been gravitating to:

“Stone Cold” — This is a heartbreaker from Demi Lovato. Super powerful.

“Marvin Gaye” — This is a sexy-fun one by Charlie Puth with a guest appearance from Meghan Trainer.

“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” — Meghan Trainer again, this time with John Legend.

“This Old Heart of Mine” — Going old school with Rod Stewart and Ron Isley — one of my all-time favorites.

“Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” — South Carolina in the summer calls for what’s known as “Beach Music” and shagging on the sand. (It’s a dance, not a sex act!) Other Beach Music favorites include “Carolina Girls” (of course) by General Johnson and the Chairman of the Board and Barry White’s “My First, My Last, My Everything.” 

“When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge. One of the truly great, heartfelt love songs. A classic.

“Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac. Again, a beautiful love song, albeit a sad one. This is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. It was intended for the “Rumours” album but was held back at the last minute, so it’s probably a paean to the doomed Stevie Nicks-Lindsey Buckingham love story. I’m a romantic, so I like to think there’s still love there. Well, both have said publicly they still love one another, so there’s that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why I’m not feeling the ‘Boom’ 

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When it comes to makeup, many women have what they describe as a “go-to look.” That’s well and good, as long as that go-to look isn’t stale or boring. I’ve always been a makeup dabbler, and that’s why one-size-fits-all products such as  “Boom” by Cindy Joseph aren’t for me.

Never heard of Cindy? She’s a former model who hit the marketing bonanza with older women. Her “Boomsticks” are sheer washes of color that are supposed to adjust to any skin tone, which is kind of like the makeup equivalent of a Mood Ring. If that’s something that interests you, be sure to check out the third-party reviews on MakeupAlley.com before buying, as opinions are decidedly mixed: Reviewers seem to love Boomsticks or hate them, with little in between. In any case, if you decide to buy, remember that you’re not married to her products — you can (and should) keep things interesting by trying other looks from time to time, lest things get boring.

As for me, I like to try lots of makeup brands, colors and combinations, as the photos above illustrate. One look is light, bright and sunny. The other is deep, dark and sexy. My husband prefers the lighter look, although he’s amused and intrigued by the fact that he never knows which version of me he’s going to encounter. (This also goes for my hair color, which I’m known to switch out from time to time. He says it’s kind of hot to wonder whether he’s coming home to a blonde, brunette or redhead.)

My point? You’re never too old to experiment with different makeup looks and products. Some will work for you and some won’t. Because I have an Instagram account (Makeup_Plus_50) devoted to makeup and skin care, I try quite a few faces on for size. Sometimes I say, “This is good; I’ll wear it again.” Other times I take a quick pic for Instagram posterity and head straight to the bathroom to wash my face, saying, “Never again.”

The bottom line is that makeup isn’t permanent. It’s like playing with paints, using your face as a canvas. I see it as a manifestation of the different sides of my personality — the yin and the yang, the light and the dark, the good girl and the minx. And when it comes down to it, I’d rather be described as a little bad than a little boring.

Shake your ‘Bum-Bum’ 

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I’m off to the Bahamas in less than a week, so I’m doing all the things one must do to prepare for fun in the sun. Tomorrow is set aside for a manicure, pedicure and waxing (Brazilian –ouch!). Then comes self-tanning: I’m super pale, so I don’t want to blind anyone on the beach.

One of my beach must-haves is a heavy duty moisturizer. I’m prone to dry skin, so moisturizer is one of my best friends. My cabinet is stocked with them, each smelling better than the last. This brings me to my point: While it’s not strictly a moisturizer, I’m completely addicted to a new moisturizing product — Brazilian Bum-Bum Cream by Sol de Janeiro.

My goodness, people, this stuff is seriously good. It leaves my skin feeling as smooth and supple as silk. I can’t stop touching it! And the scent is to die for. It’s a strong, summery, beachy scent with staying power. If they bottled it as a perfume, I’d stand in line to buy it. (If you’re averse to scents, steer clear.)

As I mentioned, Brazilian Bum-Bum cream works as a quickly absorbed, luxurious moisturizer that leaves skin silky with a slight sheen. But it serves another purpose: It’s a skin tightener for — yes — the Bum-Bum. And, of course, other body areas that could use firming.

Here’s what the makers have to say:

What it is:

A fast-absorbing body cream that helps tighten and smooth the look of skin.

What it is formulated to do:
Many Brazilian creams have a secret ingredient: guaraná, a native Amazonian plant whose fruit contains one of the most potent forms of caffeine on the planet. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is also powered by a Brazilian blend of extraordinarily nourishing cupuaçu butter, antioxidant powerhouse açaí, and super-conditioning coconut oil for irresistible, touch-me skin. The fast-absorbing texture contains just enough mica to add a perfect Brazilian glow, as the formula helps your body look and feel its smoothest and tightest.

My summation: Whether you’re headed off for a beach vacation or just dreaming of one, Brazilian Bum-Bum Cream is a must-have for all of your body parts in need of pampering.

Brazilian Bum-Bum Cream by Sol de Janeiro, $45 for 8.1 ounces, Sephora.

Finding beauty inspiration in music 

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 “And when no hope was left in sight on that starry, starry night, you took your life as lovers often do …” 

As someone who follows dozens of incredible makeup artists on Instagram, I’m consistently surprised and delighted by their creativity. While most of the uploaded eye-makeup looks are eminently wearable, others veer toward art. I’ve seen lids adorned with cats, cupcakes, animal prints, holiday scenes and even landscapes.

 I’m neither particularly adventurous nor particularly artistic, so I happily stick to less, shall we say, eye-popping motifs. The other day, though, I found myself moved by the bleak, melancholy beauty of Don McLean’s ballad, “Starry, Starry Night,” and the Vincent Van Gogh painting that inspired it. The result was a decidedly simple but romantic silver and blue lid look, courtesy of Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre in “Apparition,” a deep, inky navy, and Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Metallic Luster Liner in “Liquid Silver.”

The lesson? Sometimes it’s worth letting your heart guide your hand when deciding on a makeup look. I’m going to try to find more inspiration in my favorite artwork and music — although, of course, my eyelids will not be adorned with literal interpretations!

Listen to Starry, Starry Night.

The fab five: Beauty gurus for grownups

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hqdefaultYouTube and Instagram have transformed the beauty game. A large and varied lineup of amateurs and experts have amassed huge followings eager to learn about the latest in skin care and makeup. Instagram is where you’ll see snapshots of beauty gurus in all their poreless, perfected glory. YouTube is where you get the before and after images, learn about the latest products and see how they’re applied.

I confess that I spend hours watching videos and scrolling through photos because there are some incredibly talented men and women out there. These individuals can blend eyeshadow until it’s as smooth as body butter and draw winged eyeliner sharper than Angelina Jolie’s perfect cheekbones.

The truth, however, is that the vast majority of those gurus are on the younger end of the age spectrum. Some of the best are barely out of their teens. While I learn a great deal from them, many of their makeup looks and color choices are clearly aimed at a young, edgy market that excludes baby boomers and older millennials. That’s why I’d like to introduce you to five talented experts — all of whom just happen to be British — whose common-sense advice encompasses all generations. They’re the beauty equivalent of the Fab Five (or Fab Six if you want to get technical and count the Pixiwoo sisters separately).

Lisa Eldridge: Lisa is one of the most well-regarded makeup artists in the industry and her client roster includes the rich, famous and infamous. She’s created looks for everyone from Kate Winslet to Kate Moss, from Cate Blanchett to Katy Perry. Lisa has also worked for companies such as Shiseido, Chanel, Lancome and Boots No. 7, as well as designers like Chloe, Alberta Ferretti, Prada, Donna Karan and Moschino.

Lisa’s social media channels are resources for practical advice and clean, classic, wearable makeup looks. She’s an expert on the history of makeup and has created numerous historically accurate makeup videos showcasing various eras. You’ll find her YouTube channel here and her blog at lisaeldridge.com. I’ve already preordered her upcoming book, “Face Paint: The Story of Makeup,” from Amazon.

Wayne Goss: Some of the best makeup artists are men and Wayne is at the top of the class. If you want honest information delivered in a cut-to-the-chase, honest manner, he’s your guy. (It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes.) Wayne keeps things simple, whether he’s demonstrating how to create a smokey eye or create Kim Kardashian contours. He’s both charming and disarming: If he thinks a product is rubbish he makes no bones about it. Wayne has deservedly amassed nearly 2.2 million YouTube followers and launched his own line of high-end makeup brushes. You’ll find his YouTube channel here.

Caroline Hirons: Caroline is the Swami of Skin Care and her advice and recommendations have changed my skin for the better. I can’t even begin to fathom how many products she’s sampled in more than 18 years in the beauty industry. Caroline has represented a who’s who of top brands, including Sunday Riley, Hampton Sun, Kate Somerville, Zelens, Sjal and Pixi. She keeps things real and comes across as someone who’d be a blast to be around. Check out her YouTube channel and her blog. Your skin will thank you.

Sali Hughes: Sali has been the resident beauty writer for The Guardian U.K. since 2011. She’s also written about beauty, style and relationships in publications such as Elle, Red, Glamour and Cosmopolitan, winning two Jasmine Awards for beauty writing along the way. Sali’s YouTube channel features reviews, tutorials and interviews with leading beauty experts and celebrities. I particularly enjoy her “In the Bathroom” series, in which she tactfully invades — yes — the bathrooms of her interview subjects to chat and cheerfully check out what’s in their beauty cabinets. I recently read Sali’s book, “Pretty Honest: The Straight-Talking Beauty Companion” and thoroughly enjoyed it. You’ll find her YouTube channel here and her blog at salihughesbeauty.com.

maxresdefaultSam and Nic Chapman: The Chapman sisters describe themselves as “makeup artists, vloggers, bloggers, beauty boot camp instructors, moms and more.” All I know is that I love their YouTube videos, which feature in-depth tutorials — some classic, some slightly edgy, some celebrity-inspired — along with product hauls. Sam and Nic have a combined 30 years in the beauty industry, having begun their careers as makeup artists while in their teens. They’re also the brains behind the Real Techniques line of makeup brushes, including the new, luxe Bold Metals collection. Collectively known as Pixiwoo, you’ll find their YouTube channel here. Their joint blog is at realtechniques.com.

Photos: Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons share a laugh; Sam and Nic Chapman’s YouTube filming setup.

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