Makeup Mixology

Last summer I unleashed the mad scientist within and created a bespoke tinted moisturizer from an Estee Lauder liquid foundation, Bobbi Brown oil control moisturizer with SPF, and some Stila liquid shimmer. it proved to be a most excellent summer creation that allowed me to moisturize, even out my skin tone, and add dewiness in one step.

This year, I'm at it again. My 2010 Official Bespoke

5 Summer Treats for Face, Body and Hair

Guess who's back? Friends, I know it's been months since I've posted anything. It's flaky, I know. Life has just been a little crazy and beauty mania hasn't been my biggest priority. But I'm happy to say that it's all been positive - job, family, friends and relationship are all excellent. It just took a while (ok, a LONG time) to adjust to traveling 5,000 miles back and forth (yes, I'm living

Five for Friday: Multitasking Beauty Superheroes

Everyone already knows that conditioner can double as shaving cream (another tip: mix with water in a spray bottle to keep crazy beach hair in check). Here are five more multitasking miracles that do everything from taming cowlicks to banishing nasty odors. What are your favorite beauty multitaskers?1. Anastasia Brow Gel. I cannot live without this! Beauty experts have proclaimed clear mascara as

2009 Holiday Collections: Estee Lauder Powder Compacts

First the makeup, then the solid perfumes, and now here we have the Estee Lauder powder compact collection for Holiday 2009! All are filled with either Lucidity or Re-Nutriv pressed powder, and are refillable, of course. I'm loving the Crystal Roulette and the Starlit Night. Which are your favorites?Golden Lattice - $49Golden Cobblestones - $49Jeweled Maze - Saks Fifth Avenue - $225Jeweled Tiara

Multiple Multiples from NARS

One of my favorite recent product finds is this must-have NARS The Multiple Coffret. Whether for home or travel, this set has you covered for blush, bronzer and highlighter.It comes with mini sizes of three of my favorite Multiple shades: Orgasm, the classic peachy-pink shimmer, South Beach, a gorgeous non-dirty bronzer, and Copacabana, possibly the most perfect silvery-beige highlighter ever

Return of the Rouge

Maybe I'm inspired by the colors of the changing leaves, or maybe it's just the Mad Men mania that's sweeping the nation, but I'm about to recommend red blush -- a modern equivalent of that classic beauty staple, rouge.Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in S4 Rouge Flush is an easy-to-work-with stick in a somewhat intimidating hue. I mean, it's red. In these days of peachy-pink Orgasm and

Foundation Sensation: MAC Face & Body

Hello out there! Last time we talked, I was gushing over my one-of-a-kind foundation creation, that perfect combination of foundation, SPF 15 moisturizer, and golden luminizer. I was so in love!And then I went away for the summer - to HAWAII, my dears, so NO WONDER I wasn't writing - and used the whole precious bottle up.Upon my return home to rainy, chilly New York, I snooped around my beauty

Mess(age) in a Bottle

Hot, sticky summer weather most certainly calls for a super-lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer. I had run out of my beloved DuWop Revolotion Face, but couldn't find a suitable alternative in my beauty closet, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. (A serious bout of insomnia helped, too.)I began with a bottle of Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

Out, Damned Spot: The Battle of the Freckle

Can we talk about freckles for a sec, my dears?Seems that these little tan speckles have an uncanny ability to stir up debate. Some love 'em, saying they're quirky, cute, and youthful, while some hate 'em -- the whole "red hair and freckles" stereotype is one that's always made me cringe. Thanks a lot, Pippi Longstocking.And for those who actually possess freckles, the debate is often this: cover

Two More Fab Compacts from Laura Mercier

Last week we looked at the lovely Eye Mosaic in Mediterranean Sea, and I just can't resist showing off two other LM compacts - check out these beauties!First is the Illuminating Powder in Moroccan Bronze; I'm loving the four blocks of color and the gorgeous stamped design. Works as an illuminator on medium to dark skin tones, and a subtle allover bronzer for fair skin. It looks matte in the photo

Get Your Swag On! I Mean, Your Glow

Please indulge me this ridiculous post title, I've been hearing these hilarious stories about the Soulja Boy hotline and had to work it in somehow. Apparently, if you dial the hotline, Soulja Boy will call YOU in the morning with a wake-up message, exhorting you to "jump on up and get yo swag on!"Anyhow, I'm here to exhort you to jump up and get your glow on! Tarte Infinite Glow takes a concept

Laura Geller Bakes Up a Flawless Complexion

I've been familiar with the Laura Geller line for quite some time, but never really had the chance to play with any of the products (other than on my Sephora missions). I finally took the plunge with Balance-n-Brighten, a baked powder created to even out your skin tone.Balance-n-Brighten comes in two shades, Fair and Medium. Fair is swirled with soft tan, beige and ivory, while the Medium is

Vacation Essentials: Hawaii

In the spirit of my past Summer Essentials posts (check out this one and this one), here are a few of my must-haves from my recent Hawaiian escapades. It's such a laid-back place, so I packed light and focused on multi-tasking products, with a few standouts thrown in for some extra pop.1. Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco Masque ($26) Can't go anywhere without my favorite hair product! This proved

From the Depths of the Beauty Closet: LORAC Blush/Bronzer Duo

As you might imagine, I have quite the stash of beauty stuff. And more often than I'd like, things get lost, buried, accidentally tossed, given away...you get the idea.I thought I had long lost this excellent blush/bronzer duo from LORAC, but on a cleaning binge two weekends ago, lo and behold...there it was, stuck in the very back of a drawer. Score!I bought this Blush/Bronzer Duo in Hot Flash

Bronzer for Pale People: MAC Solar Riche

When I first popped open my MAC Solar Riche Bronzing Powder and swept some across my cheeks, I had a curious feeling of deja vu. Was it the name? The packaging? The idea that I may just have tried too many bronzers and they all look the same now?Turns out it was, indeed, the name. Solar Field was part of last summer's Solar Field collection, but was packaged in that shiny bright orange case that

Summer Foundation Lovin'...In the Winter

OK, so the "official" time for a summer foundation may have passed, it being December and all. But I've been loving this summer product and you will too, even though the sweltering days and warm breezy nights are long gone.I'm not normally the biggest fan of straight-up foundations, but I like some coverage on my face -- usually a tinted moisturizer. I'm on this kick, though, trying not to buy

How Much is Too Much?

I love limited-edition, spiffied-up compacts as much as anyone. So when I saw this bejeweled Night Diamond compact from Dior, my eyes started twirling around in my head. Sleek black compact? Decorated with chunky clear stones (a couple of which look like my favorite diamond cut, the Asscher)? Filled with a neutral, highlighting shimmer powder? I'm there.But...it's $80. And it's not refillable.I

Holiday Luxe List: Estee Lauder Butterfly Dream Compact

Tired of your boring old powder compact? Want to have something a little more showy to pull out of your purse for touchups? Check out this limited edition Estee Lauder compact designed by Jay Strongwater, $250, exclusive to Neiman Marcus.Jay Strongwater designs aren't exactly the most subtle, and certainly aren't for everyone, but if you're a sucker for a bejeweled compact, it's hard to go wrong

Highlights...But Not For Children

No, this isn't an "adult-oriented" post, I'm just hoping that a few of you will remember those Highlights...for Children magazines that were perpetually available in just about every pediatrician's waiting room. I would always get annoyed when the puzzles inside were already done, or if some sloppy child scribbled all over the pages. Swine!Anyhow, this post is about those fabulous products that

Practice Safe Highlighting and Safe Sex with NARS

Did you ever think you'd see condoms packaged together with a face highlighter? After all, the "Family Planning" section at your local CVS is usually a few aisles away from the beauty goods.But leave it to NARS, they of the Orgasms and Sins and Deep Throats, to market a set that combines The Multiple in Orgasm with two sleekly-packaged condoms. Yes, NARS condoms! Can you believe?Sales of the "