A Mascara Snob No More

I admit it. I've been a snob. From the moment I tried my first Clinique mascara in high school there was no turning back. It's only been onward and upward since then. YSL, Lancôme, Chanel, I have been content to spend $26.50 on mascara. So when Cover Girl's Lash Blast mascara appeared on the market I was skeptical. How could this mascara possibly compare to my current Chanel Inimitable obsession? Determined to break through all the hype and forge my own conclusion, I ventured into my local Walgreens and came out brandishing a bright orange tube of mascara. Every day for the past month or so, I pull out the pleasantly plump wand and coat my lashes in Very Black. The formula is light and never clumpy or flaky and the secret, I believe, is in the brush. It's many bristles pull my lashes up and out, resulting in both gloriously full lashes and a change of heart. I have finally seen the light and it's plump and orange and available at the drugstore.

Friday Mini Spa Night

While most of my friends were out throwing back Jack and Cokes and Belgian wheat beers, I was sipping green tea. Call it lame, but my Friday turned into a night of restful rejuvenation. Ok, so it might have started out a little loud with me singing in the shower at a really high decibel, but I find singing makes me happy and happy people are relaxed people, right? And happy, relaxed people take long hot showers. Ok, I know it's terrible for my dry winter skin, but three minutes were devoted to a John Frieda hair glaze, and I made sure to counteract the damage with the best under $6 body moisturizer I've ever used. Nivea Body Essentially Enriched Daily Lotion for Very Dry, Rough Skin (quite a mouthful) leaves my skin intensely moisturized and sinks right in.

I followed this by giving myself a facial with Fresh Sugar Face Polish. Never having used this before, the texture was a little interesting. Imagine taking strawberry jam and densifying it with lots and lots of sugar and you have Fresh's face polish. The sugar melted into my skin as I scrubbed in a circular motion, making me feel as though I wasn't getting the most out of my exfoliant. After leaving the scrub on for the recommended five minutes, I had really smooth skin but I was left wishing that I used the Appleseed Resurfacing Kit instead.

Having taken care of my skin, I let my hair air dry while watching a movie and sipping on a glass of red wine. Hey I was protecting myself against heart disease... Ultimately I retired to bed early and entirely stress free. Now if I only could have had a personal masseuse...

Aedes.com

Aedes.com is the kind of beauty site that reminds me of European monastary apothecaries; slightly gothic, elegant, and full of unique items. Besides stocking a wide array of hard to come by European lines, this site has the loveliest gift wrapping. In fact, I can't wait to order Diptyque's Feu de Bois candle to get me through the coming winter months!

MOP Glisten Products = Great Hair

I was not blessed with hair that walked straight off the Victoria's Secret runway. Long lustrous locks have always eluded me. I've tried my fair share of shampoos and conditioners, but I’ve always been left with the same limp waves. Sure, some of the products smelled lovely and left my hair soft, but voluminous, sexy hair? That stayed between the pages of the Victoria's Secret catalogue.

Enter the new all-organic MOP Glisten products meant to “promote volume and shine with natural, weightless moisturizers and shine enhancers." Lately a lot of beauty products are high on promises and low on results, but I’m happy to report that the Glisten products defy this stereotype. The shampoo smells like oranges and gently cleanses and repairs hair without adding bulk. Maple syrup, honey and avocado work together to add body and shine. The conditioner moisturizes with the help of honey and jojoba oil. Avocado and linseed oils strengthen and protect hair, while wheat protein adds body.

I've taken to using these delightfully citrus scented products everyday, and while I won’t be giving Heidi Klum a run for her money any time soon, I do have shinier more voluminous hair.

New Discovery

On my latest trip to Chicago, I stumbled into Barneys and made a great discovery. Claudio Riaz, one of the makeup artists, had recently launched his own line of brushes. While all the brushes were lovely, my favorite was the patented "Instant Smoke" brush. The inverted crescent moon shape does just what it's name suggests; it provides the perfect soft smoky eye. Simply line your eye and then rock the brush back and forth starting at the outer corner. Viola, the easiest smoky eye ever!

Currently the brush line is only available at Barneys in Chicago and New York.

Beauty Essentials Every Woman Should Have

I have a problem. I am addicted to makeup. If it's glossy and shimmery, I have to have it. If it's silky and dewy, I need it. If it's mattifying and magnificent, I really, really want it. And it's these thoughts that have turned my makeup case from something that could easily sit on a vanity, into a bonafide crowded aluminum artist's trunk. Seriously point me toward the next Lanvin runway show and I could make all the models up with the contents of my personal makeup arsenal.

In an effort to cleanse and purge, I weeded through my monstorously overstuffed makeup case. Thowing away a half used bottle of Stila nailpolish (from the days when they actually made nailpolish) and the remnants of a dropped eye shadow were the lowpoints. But from these lows, I like to think that I've come up with a well edited collection. While I might always have a few extras, I've made a list of the ten beauty essentials that every woman should have.

1. Shu Uemura Eye Lash curler- curls even the most reluctant of lashes
2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- comes in a wide array of shades and has a beautiful finish
3. Nars Blush in Orgasm- this peach/pink blush looks good on every skin tone
4. Lancôme Cils Booster XL- mimics the looks of Shu Uemura falsies without the effort, not to mention it's vitamin packed
5. Chanel Inimitable Mascara Black- gives you volume, length and curl without clumps
6. Lancôme Effacernes Concealer- lightweight concealer that actually stays in place and can be used both undereyes and on the face
7. Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita- a beautiful rose color that is often sold out due to its popularity
8. Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Mirth-pink/peach gloss that's never sticky or smelly
9. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liners- come in a variety of shades, not to mention they're waterproof and stay the day
10. Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten- neutral peach shimmer that always wakes up the eye

Best Beauty Buys for Fall

As a former makeup artist and current makeup enthusiast, fall is my absolute favorite time to update looks and to stock up on beauty essentials. I hit the beauty counters in an effort to translate runway looks to real life. Here are some of my favorite trends and products:

RED LIPS: There is something so glamorous about red lipstick and I'm always on the lookout for new and flattering reds.
Lipstick Queen Saint Red- sheer, pretty and just bitten, a beautiful option for those normally scared of red lips.
Lipstick Queen Sinner Red- more for the bold at heart, an opaque and sensuous red.
Nars Scarlet Empress- a semi-matte blue red that is just a little darker and sexier than a traditional 40s red.

HEAVY LINER: It doesn't need to be as extreme as the heavily winged liner on the Louis Vuitton runway; a toned down flick of liquid liner is just as alluring.
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner Black- the perfect inky black that’s both waterproof and easy to use
Lorac Front of the Line Waterproof Black Liner- just the right width for perfecting that little cat eye flick

BEAUTIFUL SKIN: This fall move away from the dewy looks of summer and onto skin with a satiny matte finish.
Lancôme Effacernes Concealer- lightweight under eye concealer that actually stays in place
Laura Mercier Mineral Primer and Foundations- gives a lightweight matte finish perfect for fall
Chantecaille Aquablush- sheer cream blush that tempers the matteness of the face so the result is always youthful

SMOKY EYES: Following the charcoal trend on the runway, the smoky eye just seems so right this fall.
Laura Mercier Storm Cloud Palette- the perfect mix of charcoal shadows to create a subtle, yet tempting smoky eye
Mac Smoking Eyes: 4- a great quad with a peachy brown color to warm up the graphite tones

NAILS:
Deborah Lippman Bitches Brew- a coffee red, more glamorous than the edgy blacks of last season