A Brief Bon Voyage

Photo Credit: www.destination360.com

When my husband and I tied the knot, it was in the midst of a busy work time for me...Beauty Show Season and back to grad-school time for him. We took a short but indulgent jaunt to Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico. It is still the most beautiful and indulgent (yes, I used the word again) resort I have ever been to and probably will ever be to, but the 4 days just didn't seem long enough for a traditional honeymoon.



Well, my husband graduated form USC Marshall with an MBA a few weeks ago and my new freelance life and devoted partner in the Beauty Bus Foundation allows us a bit more time off. We will be leaving for Italia tomorrow morning for a glorious 18 days. We will begin in Mllan and travel to Venice, Florence, Rome and Positano...I know what you are thinking, indulgent. So am I.

I have decided to really TAKE a vacation. I am signing off now for bit of time, however, log on if you feel compelled because I may feel compelled to post here and there. Either way I promise to share pics when I return.

Happy beginning of summer.

Paint Me Pixi

I was at Target today to do a bit of necessity shopping for my upcoming Italian holiday when I stumbled upon the latest from Petra Strand's Pixi line of makeup. I just couldn't resist the super convenient summer kits ...at the right price for this Recessionista and a girl who knows the fashion of Milan and Florence awaits (and those hotel rates). The color palettes screamed sunshine and the sizes are just perfect to throw in my purse or a beach tote. Or, of course in my carry on and messenger bag that I will be sporting through the cities of Italia.

The must have kits cover all a girl's needs from eyes to lips and there is even a kit for the mineral lover or those of us touring in hot sweaty summer temps.

My mission is to pack light and this find sure does help!

Available kits include: Lumi Lux Lip or Eye Palette, the Natural Mineral Kit, the Must Have Kit, or the Fresh Face Case

Puttin On the Glitz

There's this place in LA where every girl feels lovely. Its called Glitz and it is in, yes, Beverly Hills. The location itself, across the street from the Peninsula hotel may seem a bit (ahem) pretentious, but there is none of that going on when you walk into the all pink, all girl, little bite of beauty heaven. I am lucky enough to be friends with the eyebrow and make-up mavens themselves, but I promise you the moment you walk in there you'll be their BFF too.

Kristen and Natalie are my go to girls for my biggest days (I entrusted them with my wedding face) my eyebrows (which i am constantly complimented on and a bit neurotic about) and my not too often airbrush tans.

To get you started on your Glitz addiction, visit their adorable website.

Beauty Bus

I apologize for being behind on the posts as of late. I have however been working on a very worthwhile project...the Beauty Bus Foundation. Beauty Bus is a non-profit with 501(c)(3) status that provides at home beauty and grooming treatments to terminally and chronically ill patients and their primary caregivers. So, the reason I have been a little MIA...www.beautybus.org. Check it out. We are just starting out, but have BIG dreams.

Thanks in advance for the support.

Glamour Eyes Volume 2

Mascara is one thing (see Glamour Eyes Volume 1) but now we're really talking. Novalash the greatest and safest in eyelash extensions has really upped the ante when it comes to glamming up the eyes. We've all heard of butterfly kisses, my mom and I used to exchange them when I was a little girl. Well, ladies get ready for candy kisses. I have never seen something so spectacular, I want to run out and get them now, along with a box of them to put in every room in my house as fun and fabulous decor. And on my desk for the moments I just need a little ahhhh, life is beautiful reminder. Just looking at them makes me happy. What girl doesn't love a little sparkle.


The delicious, hand-dipped, freeze-dried and crystallized lashes create looks ranging from fun to fantasia. All of the delicious colors can be worn day or night for a delicate sparkle that lasts up to 2 weeks. They come in an array of colors including Cinnamon Toast (brown), Blue Raspberry (blue), Mint Chocolate Chip (green), Pink Lemonade (pink), Butterscotch (gold), Sugar Plum (purple), and licorice (black). So match your eye color, your outfit or just go for what you're feeling.



We know they are fun, flirty and fabulous, but the best part is that you can rest assured that they are safe. Novalash only uses glue made in the US, more than I can say for other lash extension companies (ahem) China. In fact the glue is pharmaceutical grade, physician formulated and it is the longest lasting on the market. So, you won't have to give up your candy too soon.

The Blues

Model at the Spring 2009 Gucci Show

I have always been a bit skeptical of blue eyeshadow. The mere thought of it equates with 80's electric blue heavy shadow and uber cheesiness. Then, Gucci used it all over the place on the Spring runways. Not trusting my hand to apply it correctly to make it chic not south beach circa 1986 I had not taken the plunge...until today. I got dressed this morning, a balmy 78 here in LA, in white cords (another trend I have had difficulty deciding when is appropriate), blue shirt and flip flops. As I looked at the color of my normally green eyes against the blue shirt and opened my makeup drawer I decided there is never a better time than the present. I think that my virgin attempt at the blue shadow was a success. I applied a light tan all over the lid and then subtly put a very pale blue in the crease and at the outer corner. I chose a color several shades lighter than my top.

I wish I hadn't waited so long to give it a try but I guess sometimes you gotta wait for Gucci to sway you in the right direction.

Candle Craze

I am a candle lover. I have them in every room in my house, in varying scents, shapes and sizes. Some were gifts, some bought for myself. I go through phases with different scents. I have a subtle apple one I am burning right now in my office. My standing favorite has to be currant. When all is said and done what I am loving right now is the Modern Alchemy collection for DL & Co.
There is a collection of black and a collection of white. From the moment you spot the packaging (and these aren't nearly as ornate as some of the other's) to the wildly creative subtle scents once they are lit....yum!




I highly suggest checking out the website, it is full of magic.

Quick Tip #1

I am personally going through a round brush opposition phase. I like to save my arm workouts for the gym and frankly I just don't have the time or patience right now to section and round brush. I was ecstatic to find a new blow-drying technique that does not include a round brush. Here is super-stylist Sam Villa's (Redken Education Artistic Director) wrap drying technique.

Wrap drying is a blow-drying technique that reduces frizz and maximizes shine. Think of the head as a roller and use a paddle brush (Sam has one of his own) to stretch hair in an “X” pattern (to the left and then the right) around the head. The combination of stretching and wrapping forces the cuticle to lay flat promoting optimum shine and style. Sam's professional tip: Always blow-dry hair from roots to ends - when the blow-dryer follows the brush, the cuticle is being flattened and smoothed, decreasing frizz.

In the days before flat irons, women used to wrap their hair around empty cans and sleep on it to get this effect.


Photo Credit: usasoda.com

I tried that one too, hoping for a miraculous alternative to blow drying.

I have also laid my head on an ironing board pre-flat iron days, in search of a way to avoid the rigors of "blowing my hair straight."

And the Winner Is...

The envelopes have been opened and the winners announced! The annual CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) Beauty Awards were announced yesterday in NY. Beauty companies are asked to submit products in 27 categories ranging from skincare to haircare to fragrance to anti-aging and more. Then the submissions are considered by CEW members, experts and insiders and voted on by a special voting committee compromised by the CEW board. What I'm telling you is some of the greatest beauty minds have come together to create this list.

What I love, each category has a prestige and mass subcategory, so girls you got options.

Here are the ones I'm thinking about buying:

Living Proof, Inc. Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair


Avon Advance Techniques Grey Root Touch-Up


Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary Eucalyptus & Peppermint Cold & Sinus Soak


L'Oréal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara


Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller


Click here to see all of the winners.

Are any of your favorites on the list?

Glamour Eyes volume 1

I am not one that loves wearing mascara, however I do LOVE the way it looks. It really does make a major difference in terms of your look. It opens your eyes, gives you a certain sort of long lash sassiness and makes you feel put together. Different mascaras, leave different results. I am constantly on the search for the one magical mascara that will achieve it all, length, volume, curve and color. What I've learned is that its all in the shape and size of the brush.So, before you go to pick your next mascara be sure to brush up on your mascara trivia. I have fluctuated between a few favorites throughout my mascara wearing days. This weekend I discovered a new one that I'm loving, Mirabella's Fringe Benefit. The brush is plump and the mascara does not clump. It gives the great curve, length and volume. I may have just found the miracle.

Here are my mascara must try's:

Mirabella Fringe Benefit



Maybelline Great Lash


Dior Show


Cover Girl Lash Blast


YSLVolume Effet


Stay tuned for upcoming Glamour Eyes series posts, because B.I.G is obsessed with Snuffleupagus style lashes.



What is your favorite mascara? I'm always looking for new ones to try.

Recessionista

I had lunch today with two of my favorite people, Michael Shaun Corby, Global Creative Director for Alterna and Lauren Hilton, Alterna's PR maven. Over calamari and salad I learned some new, brilliantly apropos terms like bag lady chic and Recessionista. Fabulous aren't they?

I walked in and my dear friends complimented me on my outfit, a maxi dress, gold Stuart Weitzman sandals (from two seasons ago), a pair of gold hoop earrings and a gold bracelet, well actually a necklace that I made into a bracelet. We caught up about my upcoming trip to Italia, Lauren's upcoming nuptials (Michael Shaun did my hair for mine a year and a half ago) and MSC's recent trip or shall I call it stay in Europe (Moscow, Berlin...). Then we got to talking about what else, the economy. After a brief convo, we turned to what else beauty. I asked Michael Shaun what his style and trend predictions were. "Funny," he said "that this follows our last topic, my new collection is called Recessionista!"

Here's what MSC, one of the industry's finest has to say:

"I see that designers seem to be working the "Crash" and helping people save "Cash" with faded sack dresses all the way to Glittery flapper dazzles. I see people following this trend and digging into closets to find anything from a hippy dress to an old cocktail dig from a work party and mixing it up. Recycle, Reuse but never refuse to look fantastic. Like your outfit today! (I thank you, my friend!)

The same holds true for your hair...It's all about working with what you have...your natural texture!!! Make sure you get a good geometric haircut this season as it will last you longer and prevent your hair from looking like an old wash cloth!

The Recessionista is all about getting through hard times without missing a beat or a car payment for that matter. Have fun, be creative and stick to quality indulgences you need...not want!"

Being an ex Alterna employee, I still have a love for their products (and apparently their people) and lately the formulas have gotten even better!

The two products I recommend that give added value to most tresses without breaking the bank roll are Alternas caviar Rapid Repair and Shaping Balm, both can create several textures while they replenish and repair tired hair.




In these times its all about our products, our wardrobe, and essentially everything having multiple uses. Look for products that you can use for various looks, go shopping in your own closet and rediscover and repurpose what you have, adding affordable touches to make it more modern. I've also dug out some old store credits to update my closet.

MSC and I agree you don't have to compromise your style just go Recessionista.

What are you doing to save with style?

Fragrance Free

As I looked at my legs this morning and then felt the temp outside, I discovered I needed some color. This has lately been a dilemma for me. I don't want to lay in the sun, because we all know what that does (age spots, wrinkles, burns, fine lines...and on), but I also can't stand the smell that develops from the use of self tanner, spray tans and DHA infused moisturizers. My husband won't even sleep in the same room the night I apply. I don't blame him, the smell, at least on my skin is unbearable. It lingers on the sheets, on my clothing, it really is terrible. So, what's a melanin challenged girl to do?

Thanks to yesterday's post on Realize Beauty, one of my favorite blogs, I first learned that I am not nuts, well at least when it comes to this. The chemicals in self tanners do react with the proteins in our skin to cause the stench. Then as I read on I discovered that there is a fragrance technology that can in fact stop the smelliness. And finally St. Tropez is the first self tanning company to put this technology into their products. I logged onto their website and wah lah on the home page it reads "New Fragrance Technology."



For a more scientific spin visit Realize Beauty. Ciao, I'm off to get me a tan!

Isn't She Lovely

Revlon has done it again, hand-picking Hollywood's hottest to add to their coveted list of beauties. This time it is Jessica Biehl! I personally think this is one of their best picks, and why? First, she is absolutely gorgeous. I also love the fact that she works out hard and has a "normal" body, no starving, skeletal figure here. Whether she is made up and in Laboutin's or running errands natural in her sweats she looks beautiful. And what more, she's with JT. Really just look at her. Whoever inked that contract...BRAVO!!