Vacation All I Ever Wanted

Ok, my dears, I am out of here! I'm headed to the great state of Vermont for two weeks for some much needed (and deserved) relaxation.

I can't wait for a change of scenery. And, since I am not taking my laptop and am planning on ignoring my cell phone, I'll be out of commission for awhile. Yay! It's going to be just me, my husband, and the lush green of Vermont.

I'll be back around August 4th with all sorts of beauty news, maybe even a contest or two, so be sure to come back and visit me then. In the meantime, there are several new posts following this entry, not to mention almost 300 past posts to keep you busy.

Have fun and stay beautiful.

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Kiss and Make-up is turning 1 in a few days. Wow! I've been at this blogging thing for a full year. I never thought I'd last this long, but it seems like the fun has only just begun. It's amazing how much there is to learn about makeup, cosmetics, skin care, and other girly things. I've had a great year trying out new products and sharing my knowledge with you all. I've also really enjoyed all your emails and comments, so keep 'em coming!

I've had more visitors to this site than I ever imagined, with readers coming from all across the globe. Here are some of my most popular pages (in no particular order):

• The Ugly Side of Beauty: here I listed some of the cosmetics companies that do and some that don't test on animals. I am an animal-lover and try not to buy too many products from companies that conduct useless, inhumane animal testing. Thanks to PETA for keeping consumers informed by providing this information.
  
• How Old is Too Old: a quick go-to guide for when to throw out your makeup. I even refer back to this from time to time! It's hard to follow all the rules, and really--aren't rules made to be broken? I think I still have a tube of lipstick from my college days. Oh well!
  
• Spend or Save: I'm always looking for ways to save money on cosmetics, but sometimes you pay for what you get. This post examines when it makes sense to spend and when it's perfectly acceptable to splurge.
  
• How to Wear Red Lipstick: though it's a beauty staple, red lipstick seems to mystify. Should you go for a blue-based red? An orange-based red? This post tries to make red lips more accessible (and beautiful) to the masses.
  
• Trimming the Bush: here I examined my anti-bush tendencies. In my opinion, trimming and shaving your intimate areas is a beauty routine essential. This was a fun one to write, and it's amazing how many people want more information about it!
  

Stay tuned! There's a lot more to write about in the world of beauty, and I plan to keep at it as long as possible. If you have any questions or have any topic to suggest, by all means, email me at asklydia@hotmail.com. I love hearing from you all--and I thank you for reading and making my blog so much fun.

Beauty Product of the Week: Dior Addict Plastic Gloss

What is it? Dior's Dior Addict Plastic Gloss provides "intense color and extreme brilliance all in one, this rich, dense gloss makes lips look like they are 'dressed' in a skin-fitting vinyl sheath. The smooth, slick finish is just as durable as it is gorgeous - just one slick of the wand lasts for hours." Available in eight colors at Sephora or department stores for $24.50.

What did you think? I know, I know...$24.5o is a lot of money for lipgloss. What can I say? I was minding my own business, poking around Sephora, when Dior's beautifully packaged plastic gloss caught my eye. I instantly had to have a tube of my own! The colors were beautiful, but I finally settled on Edgy Rosewood, a soft mauvish pink that looked good with my skin tone.

This stuff goes on thick, so be careful. It makes my lips feel super slick and shiny, though not overly sticky or gloopy. The color is flattering and not too subtle like some glosses. Both the color and the incredible slickness seem to last longer than any other gloss or lipstick I've used lately, which is great. My one complaint with most glosses is that they don't have staying power. This stuff does--it lasts for hours!

The one negative thing I have noticed is that this gloss likes to find its way on to my teeth more than any other product I've used, so several tooth-checks are a must with this one.

The final verdict? The fact that this product has "Addict" in the title is no coincidence. I'm a lipstick addict, and this gloss satisfies my need for a fix. It may cost a pretty penny, but it's worth it. It's great to have something a little luxurious in my cosmetics bag o'tricks. This gloss looks great, feels great, and is my new favorite!

Summer Flavor, Summer Style: Berries

I love a big serving of sweet, ripe berries in the summertime. I have such fond memories from my teenage years of eating bowls of strawberries and cream out in a patio under the stars on hot, humid, Annapolis nights.

Because of their delicious, sweet flavor and their bright, beautiful colors, cosmetics companies have long been using berries in their products. Here are a few of my faves:

• Strawberry Shower Gel from The Body Shop, $10.50. About 10 years ago, I lived in London and had almost no money. The very little money I had went on a few things: the theater, alcohol, and trips to The Body Shop. In my little flat, I was lucky enough to have a bathtub, and I spent many hours soaking in The Body Shop's Strawberry Bath Bubbles. While Strawberry Bubble Bath is no longer on the market, this shower gel is the next best thing. The scent of strawberries is surprisingly relaxing and the fragrance is delicious!
  
• Sun-Ripened Raspberry Antibacterial Hand Gel from Bath and Body Works, $4. I'm not a huge fan of antibacterial soaps, but this product, and all of the Bath and Body Works soaps, are my exception. The soap is perfectly scented--it's not too overwhelming, but still noticeable. It leaves your hands feeling soft and smelling like berries for quite a while. There are worse things to smell like!
  
• Super Shimmer Lipgloss in Pretty Berry by Sephora, $10. Sephora's lipglosses are a great value! They glide on easily and feel great on your lips, and this shiny berry/mauve color is soft and flattering, making it perfect for your everyday summer look.

Sun ripened berries are the epitome of summer, but if you can't eat 'em, wear 'em!

Summer Flavors, Summer Style: Lemon

Nothing beats a nice, cold lemonade in the middle of a hot summer's day. Well, I guess a lemonade spiked with vodka would beat a plain old lemonade, but you get what I'm saying!

Lemons are refreshing and cheerful. Not only can they taste great, but they can make you look great as well. Here are just a few lemony beauty products to try this summer:

• Simply the Zest by Bliss, $36. This is a great little spa in a box kit, and includes Lemon + Sage Scrub, Body Butter and Hand Cream. Along with smelling amazingly yummy, these products will all work together to soften your skin and keep you glowing this summer.
• Juicy Tubes Ultra Shiny Lipgloss in Lemon Sugar by Lancome, $17.50. Yellow lipgloss? Yes, it might sound strange, but the citrusy scent and flavor, combined with a super shiny finish will make you a believer...and put you in a summery state of mind.
• Trattamento D'Alternanza Exfoliating Treatment by Oscar Blandi, $26. This weekly treatment exfoliates the scalp, making your hair feel healthier. As an added bonus, this treatment smells like lemon poppy seed muffins--yum! Just don't eat it and you'll be ok.

Lemons aren't just for lemonade! Try a citrusy cosmetic product this summer to add a little sunshine to your beauty routine.

Taking Care of Business

We all know that despite our desires, makeup doesn't last forever. We also know that makeup can be pretty pricey, so we really should be taking better care of our favorite products. How?

Try these steps:

1. Store your goods correctly. While it may be convenient, the worst place to store makeup is on your bathroom counter. Bathrooms have warm, humid air that can destroy all those minerals, oils, powders, and other crucial ingredients in your favorite products. Instead, keep your cosmetics in a makeup case or some place cool and dark and keep it out of extreme environments.
   
2. Keep it clean. To extend the life of your tools, you should clean them regularly. Experts recommend cleaning synthetic bristle brushes every couple of days and natural bristle brushes once a month. (Yikes! I am so guilty of having dirty brushes--I only do mine every few months. Oops!) To clean your brushes, apply a makeup remover, brush cleaner, or baby shampoo to the bristles, wipe the brush on a paper towel, run the brush under water to clean it out, reshape the bristles, and let it air dry. Viola! All clean and ready to go.
3. Keep it sharp. If you really love your current eyeliner or lipliner, invest in a good quality sharpener to keep your pencils from getting gnawed. If the tip of your product is really soft, try chilling it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before you sharpen it.
4. When in doubt, throw it out. Makeup is perishable, and if you think your stuff is past its prime (i.e., if your nail color is milky, if your foundation smells off), the best bet is to throw it out and buy new stuff. Click here for guidelines about expiration dates.
   

Burn Baby Burn

Ok, so we're all human, and at times we don't always do the right thing. While you know you should wear your sunblock and limit your time in the sun, sometimes things happen and the next thing you know, you're sporting a miserable, painful sunburn. So…now what?

Here are some hints on caring for your skin if you get sunburned this summer:

• Freeze! The first two days of your burn, apply a cold compress to your skin to soothe the burn. You know that bag of peas sitting in your freezer? Well, pull 'em out and press them onto your lobster-colored skin--it will take away the sting of the burn.
  
• Medicate! If you're in pain, pop a few ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours to help reduce the pain and inflammation.
  
• Soothe! If your skin is itchy post-burn, calm it down with a cool oatmeal bath. You can also apply some after sun gels designed to ease your skin and cool you off.
• Exfoliate! A few days after the burn, your skin is going to peel…yuck! To slough off the burnt and peeling layers of skin, use a washcloth in the shower. Just be sure to rub your skin gently. You'll also want to apply your favorite skin lotion as soon as you dry off. Your poor, parched skin needs all the love it can get.
• Treat! Even though your peeling may have stopped, it’s a good idea to keep moisturizing on a regular basis. The sun can really zap the moisture out of you, so you'll need to do everything you can to replace it.
• Prepare! Your motto now should be "once burned, twice shy." You don't want to cause more damage to your skin, so be sure you're applying sunblock regularly and taking precautions to avoid another burn.

There you go! If you stayed out in the sun a little too long, hopefully these tips will help you out!

Beauty Product of the Week: Ulta Cheek Color

What is it? Ulta's Cheek Color "is a silky and sheer powder that glides across your skin leaving behind transparent color that gives your skin a healthy and natural looking glow. Chamomile extract is added to the powder to sooth and moisturize the skin surface." Available in about a dozen colors at Ulta for $6.50 (though it's usually on sale for much less!).

What do you think? I know, I know...it's just blush--it's not the most exciting beauty product out there. However, I have tried many different brands of blush, both expensive and, well, cheap, and I've settled on Ulta's Cheek Color as my favorite, hands down.

Here's why: 1) it's inexpensive, 2) there are so many colors to choose from, 3) it feels good on, and 4) it looks nice.

I've tried two colors of Ulta's blush, Sunkissed and (my latest fave) Afterglow. Afterglow is a gorgeously bright pink. While it may look a bit too intense in its little compact, it goes on subtly, leaving behind a healthy, youthful glow. The powder-based blush feels light on my skin, so I don't have that suffocated skin feel I get from some makeup. It lasts all day and is a snap to apply.
The final verdict? While blush is probably not the most exciting thing you'll put on your face, it can really improve your look when done right. If you're in need of a new blush, I'd recommend the Ulta brand. I really don't think there is any need to spend more than about $6 or so on blush, so hit up Ulta during one of their many sales and you won't be disappointed!

Quick Tip: The Root of the Problem

If your roots are showing and your next appointment with your colorist seems unbearably far away, try this tip from Gary Howse, a colorist and salon co-owner here in the Seattle area:

Before bed, rub a little color depositing shampoo into your roots and blow dry the area. When you get up in the morning, wash and style your hair as normal. Your roots will be stained with the pigment in the shampoo and won't be as noticeable.

If only everything were so easy!

The 411 on 3-1-1

It's been a stressful day. Your poor little beauty blogger had to step out of her comfort zone to deal with a bunch of grease monkeys, all in the name of love. My husband had a flat tire, so I stepped up and took care of it since he was stuck at work and I'm the Queen of Comp Time. *Sigh*

The hassle of today's harsh tire reality really makes me look forward to my upcoming trip to Vermont where I can unplug and de-stress. But since I'm flying back east, I need to jump through a whole bunch of hoops just to get on the darn airplane. And the rules about carrying on liquids, gels, etc. seems unnecessarily confusing.

So to help all of you who plan to fly anytime soon, here's the skinny on the TSA's crazy rules:

PACKING YOUR CARRY-ON: 3-1-1
To get through the inspection process faster, remember the 3-1-1 rule. This means:

• All liquids, creams, gels, and aerosols must be in 3 ounce or smaller containers. For example, a 3 oz. trial sized bottle of mouthwash is fine for your carry on, but if you have a larger bottle of mouthwash containing only 3 oz. of actual liquid, the TSA will snag it from you. Take some time to put your liquids, etc. in containers that are 3 ounces or less. You can get plastic bottles and containers from places like Storables or the Container Store.
• All your 3 ounce containers must fit in a 1 quart ziplock bag.
• You are only allowed 1 ziplock bag per passenger.
• All liquids larger than 3 ounces (or anything that doesn't fit in your 1 quart ziplock) must be checked.
• For perspective, a tube of Great Lash mascara is .43 ounces; a tube of lipstick is about .13 ounces; deodorants are about 2.7 ounces, and moisturizers are often in 4 ounce bottles.

If you're smart about packing your liquids, I bet you could get a lot of your cosmetics through security without any problem. More good news: tweezers, nail clippers, and nail files are all allowed in carry on. Thankfully, so are knitting needles! I'll be knitting and purling my way across the country in a few days.

For more information about the TSA's rules for packing, go to www.tsa.gov.

NYC Gals: Don't Forget! Tomorrow is THE Day!

Reminder…

Boots No7 Restore & Renew is on sale tomorrow, July 18th at 8:00 a.m. (get there EARLY!)

ONLY AT
CVS/pharmacy 630 Lexington at 53rd Street
New York City

*First 50 people in line will receive a $50 Boots gift bag full of their favorite products!

If you're going, good luck and have fun!

Quick Tip: Fake and Bake

As you probably already know, I am a sun foe. Since I am super fair skinned, I do whatever I can to avoid going out into the sun unprotected. My sunblock fanaticism has paid off, and I've remained burn-free for over 10 years now. However, my ghostly white is a little shocking at times, so I am a fake tanner.

If you self tan, either at a professional spray on booth or at home with various lotions, you may have noticed either an unevenness in your color or an unnatural orange tint. So...what to do? How do you put a stop to self tan discoloration?

The answer, my dears, is exfoliation! There are so many great exfoliating scrubs on the market (like Philosophy's Old Fashioned Lemonade Salt Scrub or Sephora's Body Sugar Body Scrub) you can use all over your body to slough off those nasty dead skin cells that are soaking in the self tanner, causing unevenness or discoloration. Not only will your skin feel great and super soft, but the self tanning product of your choice will actually work better. Plus most exfoliating scrubs smell and feel yummy, so it feels like you're spoiling yourself every time you use it.

There! No more blotchy, splotchy orange skin!

Beauty Product of the Week: Bed Head After Party

What is it? According to their packaging, Bed Head by TIGI's After Party is "the perfect party favor. After Party hair cream (is used) for silky, smooth, shiny, healthy looking hair. Control the funky fly-aways and silk-ify your hair." Available at professional salons for about $17.00.

What did you think? As I recently mentioned, I've just started using a flat iron to style my hair. Well, I can't even imagine flat ironing without After Party. It's easy to use: a small amount of cream is smoothed into dry hair and then it's time to style as usual.

After Party smells amazingly good and the cream isn't too sticky or too thick. It leaves my hair super smooth and shiny looking, and incredibly soft to the touch. I have fewer fly-aways and my hair has a lot of movement and a lot of control at the same time. It really does exactly what it says it will, and there aren't a lot of products on the market that can say the same.

Final verdict? Love it! Even though it costs a few bucks more than I'd like, After Party is a great product. My hair looks better when I use it, and when it comes to a good hair day, I can use all the help I can get! Plus the tube looks like a florescent pink dildo (a florescent pink dildo that spurts out white hair cream--oh how I giggle!), so it's kinda fun to use every morning. What can I say...I appreciate a phallic symbol when I see one!

Attention NYC Gals! Get Ready to Line Up for This One!

I live in Seattle, so this news is of no use to me, but I just received a press release about the wildly popular anti-aging "miracle serum" from Boots--their No.7 Restore and Renew. Well, for all of you in the Manhattan area, mark your calendars and get ready! You'll want to be at the CVS at 630 Lexington Ave on July 18th at 8:00 am to grab up your bottle.

I've been using this now cult-worthy product for a while and my skin is looking and feeling great.

Here's the entire press release--good luck getting your hands on a tube!

Stamford, Conn., July 11, 2007— The news has travelled across America, and the question remains, ‘Where can I buy the Boots No7 miracle serum?” Sold out for weeks, Boots, the UK’s #1 health and beauty retailer, will ship a special delivery of the much awaited No7 Restore and Renew serum to just one location for lucky Manhattanites available at 8:00 am EST on Wednesday, July 18th at the CVS/pharmacy at 630 Lexington Avenue (at 53rd Street) in New York City. Each tube will retail for $21.99. In order to satisfy their customers, a limit of two per customer has been established. At last report, bottles are being sold for over $100 on eBay.

“CVS/pharmacy is excited to be the only retailer to offer this sold out product in July from Boots No7, the #1 health and beauty brand in the UK, to customers in the U.S.,” said Cheryl Mahoney, Vice President of Beauty Care, CVS/pharmacy. “Interest in Restore and Renew has generated a waiting list at our stores and now we’re able to give New York shoppers exclusive access on July 18th, with availability at many CVS/pharmacy stores throughout the country and CVS.com in the near future.”

The excitement over Boots’ No7 Beauty Serum began after a BBC documentary, “Horizon”, aired in the U.K. The program looked into the science behind cosmetics, particularly products which claim to prevent and repair the signs of aging such as pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. BBC Horizon approached a team of scientists at Manchester University who were conducting research into skin aging, especially the effect of UV light on structures like fibrillin that provides the skin with mechanical support. “The Dermatology Department of the University of Manchester has been researching Tretinoin for years,” according to the program. “They were convinced that no over-the-counter anti-aging creams could match the effectiveness of Tretinoin (the prescription drug retinoic acid) until they were asked to investigate an off-the-shelf product from Boots.”

The program found that one product stood out as actually beginning to repair the damage to the skin’s structure-- Boots No7 Beauty Serum. The Serum sold out immediately in the U.K. and is being produced at a rate of thousands of tubes per hour to keep up with consumer demand.

Breaking all sales records in the U.K., Boots No7 Restore and Renew has been proven by independent scientists to show that the No7 product has a similar effect to retinoic acid – a prescription-only treatment that is known to repair the signs of photo-aging.

“Boots No7 Restore and Renew has indeed sold out due to the scientific proof that women and men can now reverse the signs of aging,” said Martin Waters, CEO of Boots North America. “We are committed to restocking shelves with our partners, Target and CVS/pharmacy. Our factories are working around the clock to keep up with the demand, and provide our customers with the same incredible skincare products that have caused such frenzy in the U.K. The popularity of No7 Restore and Renew is evidence of our effective product line up and our established 150 year history as a beauty and health expert. We are proud to bring this level of research and development stateside through our retail partners, Target and CVS/pharmacy.”

Boots products are sold at Target (Target.com), CVS/pharmacy (CVS.com). To satisfy the demand of No7 Restore and Renew, the Boots team is offering a waiting list at http://www.boots.com/, enabling customers to be the first to be notified when shipments arrive on-line and in-store.

Boots No7 is the #1 cosmetics & skincare brand in Britain with an estimated one in three women owning a No7 product. The renowned Boots company was established in England in 1849, and has been creating and developing leading beauty brands since that time. Boots holds a Royal Warrant, a highly distinguished mark of recognition for companies who regularly supply goods to the Royal Family.

Lydia's Gotta Have It List

The cosmetics companies sure are busy this week, sending me emails spotlighting new products and deals. I must be in consumer mode, because these ads are working on me! I want to try some of these, but my pocketbook is screaming, "Noooooo! Step away from the computer!"

Whether I actually buy them or not, here are three products I'm eyeing:

• Benefit's that gal: this isn't just another primer to wear under your foundation--this primer has a gentle "silky" pink tint that promises to wake up the skin, smooth it out, and make it look younger. Plus it contains light-reflecting pigments that brighten up your skin tone. that gal costs $27.00 and if you buy it from Benefit's website and enter the code TGPRIMER at checkout, you'll get free shipping. Nice.
  
  
• Lancome's Courbe Virtuose Divine Lasting Curves Mascara: maybe it's the sleek, curvey tube, maybe it's the super long and confusing name, but this mascara looks like an tempting indulgence. At $23.00 a tube, I could buy about 6 tubes my beloved Great Lash for the same price, but still--there's something in me that longs for a "100 degree lash curve with divine length." If I do give in to my consumer-driven dark side and buy this and some other products totally $35.00, Lancome will reward me with all sorts of great samples (just type in JULY when checking out at their website).
  
  
• Laura Mercier's Mosiac Shimmer Bloc: this quad of bronzing and luminizing colors contains light reflecting ingredients and can be used all over-from the cheeks, to the eyelids to the body, if you'd like. There are two pallets, Golden Mosiac (containing copper, bronze, gold and cream shades) and Peach Mosiac (containing pink, bronze, peach and pearl tones), that would flatter a wide array of skin tones. Since it's a multi-tasker, it would be great for packing in your makeup bag if you're planning on any summer getaways. Available at Sephora for $38.00.

I know there are other product out there that I'm dying to try, so just consider this the tip of the iceberg! What's on your "oh I have to try THAT" list?

Change Will Do You Good

I recently made a big life-changing decision: I changed hair stylists. My old stylist and colorist were costing way too much money and I wasn't feeling the love anymore, so I was on the prowl for a new place to get my hair done. Last week, I went for my first appointment with my new girl and she did it all--my color, my cut, my style. I'm officially a changed woman!

So, what did she do to so thoroughly change my look and my attitude to my hair? She flat ironed it!

I don't have curly hair or straight hair--I have boring, at times hard to manage, wavy hair. And I've never done much with it. I've always been a "blow and go" kind of girl...I just blow my hair dry, run a brush through it, and call it good. But now that I've seen the light, I'm a flat iron convert.

Yes, it may take a little more time to do and I might have to actually use a bit of product, but I love the smooth, shiny, sleek look I get from my flat iron. I know, I know--it's probably horrible for my hair, but most things that are good are bad for you, so why should this be any different? And yes, I know I won't be able to do it every single day, but my perfectly straight hair makes me feel a little more complete, more grown up, more dressy. I love it!

Not only did my new stylist turn me on to such a great tool in the flat iron, but she also costs less than half than my old stylist/colorist. God, what more could I want?

So, the next time you're apprehensive about making a dramatic change to your look, just dive right in and go for it. What's the worst that could happen? Even if you were to shave your head a la Britney Spears, you could find a way to make it work, given a wide variety of wigs, hats and scarves.

Change is good!! I promise!

Beauty Product of the Week: Aquafresh White Trays

What is it? According to their website, Aquafresh White Trays are "designed by cosmetics dentists to deliver an easy-to-use whitening experience if you are looking to get a brighter, whiter smile. The disposable trays are pre-filled with the same Enamel-safe ingredient dentists use. The flexible tray is easy to apply. It molds securely around your teeth allowing the Fresh-Tasting gel to whiten even between teeth. Use once a day for visibly whiter teeth in just 3 days." Available at drugstores and big box stores like Target for about $36.00 (though they are often on sale and there are coupons available at www.aquafresh.com if you can get the site to cooperate!).

What did you think? I have used Crest Whitestrips in the past, and found them to do a very good job of whitening my teeth. The downside of the Crest strips was that you had to use them twice a day, the strips would often fall off, and my teeth became overly sensitive during the whitening process. When Aquafresh brought their new whitening product to the market on the promise that their trays would fit easier than the strips, I couldn't wait to try them. I was at Target and noticed them on sale, so I thought I'd give them a try.

The White Trays only need to be worn once a day, for about 30 to 45 minutes total. The trays are easy to get into place initially, but after a few minutes, they seem to slip and not fit as well as they should. Then there's the problem of the actual whitening gel...after a few minutes of wearing the trays, the gel seemed to ooze up to my gum lines. It felt disgusting. Just imaging sitting with your mouth slightly open, plastic trays just barely hanging on to your teeth, your mouth filling up with saliva, and then gobs of whitening goo falling off your gums, sliding to the back of your throat. Not attractive.

After wearing the trays and suffering with gobs of "fresh-tasting whitening gel" filling up my throat, I couldn't wait to tear off the trays and rinse the gooey chunks out of my mouth. It induced a full body shudder. Blah.

My teeth did get a little whiter. I couldn't stomach the thought of finishing my seven day whitening experience and stopped after day three. My husband tried the trays for a few days and said he didn't have the same issues I did...maybe I'm just special.

The final verdict? I hate, hate, hate the pre-filled gel strip inside the tray. It's beyond nasty, and Aquafresh White Trays just made me want to go back to Crest's strips. There really has to be a better way of at-home whitening. I haven't used Go Smile--the price scares me--but I feel like Goldilocks trying to find a product that's "just right." So far, I have yet to find the ideal whitener for me. *Sigh.* Given the choice of Aquafresh or Crest, I'd have to pick Crest. Oh well.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Ah, July 4th--a day to sit back and take part in some all-American traditions like BBQ, fireworks, and, of course, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY.

If you can't make it to Brooklyn for the mind-blowing stuff-your-mouth-with-hot dogs-contest, try this:

1) grab a bottle of OPI's Coney Island Cotton Candy
2) flip on ESPN
3) sit back and paint your nails as you watch the battle between Japan and America for Hot Dog eating supremacy!

Coney Island Cotton Candy is one of my all time nail color faves--its a beautifully soft but not too subtle pink that looks great with everything from a cute summer dress to a platter full of hot dogs! It's the go to summer time nail color.

Have a fun, safe 4th, and be careful eating those dogs...the are a choking hazard, after all!

Hello Kitty

I made the mistake of showing my husband, a certified cat lover, I Can Has Cheezburger?, THE website for LOL kitties. In an attempt to add his own 2 cents worth to my makeup blog, he found this picture (below) on the website and said, "Look! It's a makeup kitty! Perfect for your blog!" Or was that purrfect? Whatevs. Either way, it's cute, and who couldn't use a little cute from time to time?

For more cute kitty pictures, go to their website--it's a hoot!

Drink to Your Health, Part 2

In my last post, I highlighted all sorts of drinks that do everything from ease PMS symptoms to rev up your sexual desire. Here are a few more tasty beverages that could help you out:

If you're suffering from an upset tummy brew up some ginger tea. Just prepare a regular cup of tea and then add a bit of ground ginger to it, or grate some fresh ginger into a pot of boiling water and allow it to steep for a few minutes. Ginger has been used for ages to help settle a stomach and reduce nausea. It's also known to be effective for motion sickness. If tea isn't your thing, try a fizzy glass of ginger ale. My mom always gave me ginger ale and saltines as a kid when I was sick--I guess she was on to something!

If you need some mental clarity have a cup of green tea. In recent studies, people who drank two cups of green tea daily were less likely to suffer from cognitive impairment than those who didn't drink tea. So if you're feeling forgetful or a little cloudy, go green. Researchers have found no mental-boosting benefit from coffee, black tea or oolong tea.

If you worked out a little to hard and need help recovering whip up a glass of low-fat chocolate milk instead of chugging a bottle of Gatorade. Along with being yummy, chocolate milk contains a great ratio of carbs and protein that will help you quickly recover after a grueling workout. The cocoa in the chocolate milk mix also contains antioxidants which are crucial in aiding muscle repair. Sure beats yucky old Gatorade!

If you have a pounding headache try apple juice or cider. Enjoyed either hot or cold, researchers have found apple juices and ciders are just as effective against a headache as taking aspirin. It's the scent that's the key--it has a therapeutic effect on the body and has been proven to relieve pain. Weird! An apple (juice) a day can keep the doctors away!

There you go! More tasty, easy ways to cure what ails you!

Drink up!

Drink to Your Health, Part 1

When people think about how much food they eat, they often don't count the beverages they consume. Well, it's high time to start thinking more about what you're sipping, because juices and other drinks can really help boost your mood or provide other health benefits. And let's face it, good health is a cornerstone to true beauty.

Here are few beverages to try:

If you need an energy boost don't go for a Red Bull or Rock Star--all that caffeine and sugar only gives you a temporary rush and will set you up for a crash a few hours later. Instead, sip a cold, refreshing glass of lemonade. The zing of the lemon stimulates your nose and taste buds and turns on the "wakeup" sensors in your brain.

If you're PMS-ing skip your normal cravings for sugar, salt and chocolate. Instead, blend up a cup of frozen strawberries with a cup of skim milk. This naturally sweet dairy treat can actually help ease cramps and other oh-so fun PMS symptoms. Plus you'll be getting some much need calcium, so you really can't go wrong here!

If you want to lose a couple of pounds forget all those diet supplements and instead have a glass of grapefruit juice. Researchers have found that people who drank 8 ounces of grapefruit juice before each meal lost an average of 3.3 pounds. This may not sound like a huge amount, but every little bit helps. And the effect only comes from grapefruit juice--when researches swapped out the grapefruit with apple juice, participants did not see the same results.

If you want to bring "sexy back" mix up a banana smoothie. Just take a frozen banana, plop in in the blends and add 1 cup of skim milk and 1 cup of yogurt. The scent of banana is a natural aphrodisiac for women, and even increases blood flow to the genitals, making nerves more sensitive to the touch. Is this what Gwen Stefani meant when she said "this shit is bananas"?

Give one of these drinks a try. The strawberry anti-PMS smoothie sounds really yummy, though I don't know if it could really substitute a rich, dark chunk of chocolate.

Tomorrow, I'll share some more beverages that provide an added bonus. Salut!

American Beauty

Independence Day is almost here. And while you could celebrate with fireworks, sparklers, hot dogs and s'mores, why not take a more beautiful approach this year?

Ditch the tacky stars and stripes Mom sweaters (you know what I'm talking about!) and instead put your best face forward with one of these three summery makeup palettes:

• Summer Sunset Color Story and BeautySaver from American Beauty, $25 at Kohl's. This set will help you create a pretty summer glow with the help of an anti-aging face cream, an eyeshadow duo in Sunny Honey, some bronzing powder, and a long-wearing lipcolor in a patriotic gingery-red.
  
• Desert Island Essentials from Laura Geller, $45 at Sephora. Declare your Independence from time-sucking makeup application with this limited edition set. This will get you geared up for the summer and the 4th with minimal ease. The bronze and brighten will give you a beachy look which will be a great base for orange and brown-tinted lipgloss, mascara and eyeliner.
  
• Love Lisa Battle Box from Too Faced, $32.50 at Ulta. Inspired by Lisa Blandino, Too Faced creator Jerrod Blandino's sister, who is battling skin cancer comes this beauty kit. Included are a collection of four eye shadows, two lip glosses and one duo face shimmer all in shades of pink and gold. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation, so you can look good and help others at the same time. Retail philanthropy is sooo American!
  

I only have two things to beg of all of you this 4th:

1. Be sure to wear plenty of sunblock.
2. For the love of god, please, please, please don't paint American flags on your fingernails!! Resist the temptation!! Trust me on this.

Have a fun and safe 4th!