Quote of the Week! Happy Halloween

To celebrate my 4th wedding anniversary, I am taking the next few days off. I'm heading south to Portland, OR to get away from the world and to luxuriate in the suite of a very high end hotel. I'll be back by Monday (11/5), but until then, I leave you with a quote:

"The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural." --Calvin Klein

See? Even men seem to understand that it takes 15 minutes to achieve the natural look!

Enjoy the weekend--see you all next week!

Beauty Product of the Week: Natural Shine Instant Nail Finish

What is it? Sally Hansen's Natural Shine Instant Nail Finish promises "beautiful natural nails without the work. It's easy brush-on formula delivers a healthy, radiant finish that enhances the beauty of natural nails. Dries instantly to a soft shine. Nails are strengthened with a nourishing infusion of Vitamin E, Pro-Vitamin B5, and Sea Minerals with Calcium and Magnesium. Anti-oxidant White Tea Extract deeply moisturizes for resilient nails. Portable purse size is perfect for mini-manicures on the go!" Available in Pink Tint or Clear at Ulta and drugstores for about $5.99

What did you think? Sometimes a girl wants fancy, colorful nails. Other times, she longs for pretty nails that look natural, but shiny and more uniform in color. My nails were looking shabby--not bad, just lacking in shine and in need of a little something to make them more presentable. I didn't have time to fuss with a base coat, two coats of lacquer, and a final top coat (not to mention all that drying time!) and was looking for a shortcut.

Natural Shine was just the product. It goes on as quickly and easily as clear nail polish, but it leaves behind a very natural rosy hint of color that took my naked nails to the next level. It felt light, and I honestly forgot that I was even wearing anything on my nails. Plus it dries in seconds, so there was no need to wait for layer after layer to dry before getting back to the rest of your life.

The downside? This stuff stinks! It has a very strong scent, plus the top doesn't seem to screw on very well, so I don't know about the whole "portable mini-mani" mentioned in the product description.

The final verdict? If you need a quick manicure and you only have a few minutes to do it at home, Natural Shine is just what you're after. I'm sure I'll use this on a very regular basis since I don't seem to have the time or patience to allow myself a full manicure these days. My nails look shiny and healthy, and it took me less than 5 minutes for two full coats. Not bad!

Stress Junkie

Like most of you, I live with a considerable amount of stress on a regular basis. I am a busy person and I honestly don't know how I would function if things were slower, easier, or quieter than they are now. Sure, after a few weeks I'd adjust to a slower pace, but I think all the stress in my life helps me focus and function well.

However, there are times when all I want to do is collapse in a heap and remain there, crumbled and motionless, for days. What to do when the world gets you down? Heal thyself! And how? I don't meditate or pray, I don't go to therapy. For me, relaxation means doing one of the following:

• Writing
• Taking a long, hot shower or bath
• Going for a pedicure
• Begging my husband for a massage

But what I should really be doing is rubbing my feet, or finding someone to do it for me. Why? Well, according to some, reflexology, the act of applying pressure to the feet with specific thumb and finger techniques, will reduce stress and make me feel better.

With reflexology, different zones in your feet correspond to parts of the rest of your body (see the reflexology map, above). Applying pressure and rubbing specific zones will benefit whatever body part/organ it relates to. It's all connected. And it sounds good to me. Just taking the time to stop whatever I'm doing to rub my feet sounds like it would be relaxing, and possibly feel good. To make things even easier, you can even rub certain parts of your hand in a similar manner to gain the same stress-busting effects of foot reflexology.

If you want to know more, click here for some interactive reflexology maps of the feet and hands. I say: what could it hurt? Stress relief is stress relief...period.

Locks of Love

My husband (who has very long hair) cut about 12+ inches of his lovely locks off over a year ago. He has since grown every inch back (much to his delight) and he donated his hair to Locks of Love.

You've all probably heard of Locks of Love. They take donations of human hair to make wigs/hairpieces for disadvantaged kids (under 18) who have lost all or part of their hair due to some medical issue. They provide an amazing service--giving children the chance rebuild their self-esteem and confidence while dealing with serious medical conditions.

When my husband gave up his hair, the hairdresser told him that Locks of Love has strict guidelines for the hair they accept. Now, the good folks over at Nexxus are working with Locks of Love to show people exactly what they need to do to donate their hair. Click here for the site and video about donation.

Here are the guidelines Locks of Love follows:

GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE DONATIONS

• Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.
• Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable. If unsure, ask your stylist.
• Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable.
• Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable.
• We cannot accept dreadlocks. Our manufacturer is not able to use them in our children’s hairpieces. We also cannot accept wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.
• Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches.
• Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.
• Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.
• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.
• Please Note: Shorter hair will be separated from the ponytails and sold to offset the manufacturing costs. Although the shorter hair cannot be used in the hairpieces, it still greatly helps to reduce costs.
• Gray hair will be accepted and sold to offset the manufacturing costs.

And finally, here is information on how to donate:

• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.
• Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.
• Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed in.
• Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then inside of a padded envelope.
• Fill out the hair donation form, or write your name and address on a separate sheet of paper and include inside the envelope.
• All hair donations must be mailed to Locks of Love at:

  2925 10th Avenue N, Suite 102
  Lake Worth, FL 33461-3099
  

Beauty Quote!

Happy (almost) end of the week! I hope you all have fun things planned for the weekend. I am taking my 5-year-old nephew to the theater for the first time in his life to see Into The Woods. He better be good!

Here's a quote from the very witty Mae West to start your weekend:

"Kiss and makeup--but too much makeup has ruined many a kiss."

Ain't that the truth!

Beauty Product of the Week: Sexy Mother Pucker

What is it? New and available at Target, Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker is a "new extreme-formula lip plumping gloss with scientifically proven powerfill microspheres that explode in volume up to 10x when they come in contact with water. Sexy Mother Pucker's new powerfill technology formula can fool your lips into looking and feeling fuller, without plastic surgery!" For $9.99, I tried out the nude color.

What did you think? I think Soap and Glory is the new line of products made by the woman who started Bliss cosmetics...I could be wrong. Anyway, Target has all sorts of cute Soap and Glory products like body scrubs, body butters, and bubble baths. Being a lipstick fiend, I of course opted to try Sexy Mother Pucker. First of all the name is great...I love it! The packaging is vintage looking and hard to ignore. Yes, I got suckered in to buying a product based on the name and the packaging. I fell right into the hands of Soap and Glory's advertisers.

Being impatient, I paid for my plumping gloss and applied it the second I go into the car. Okay, that's not entirely true--I first had to wrestle with the packaging to free my tube of gloss from its cardboard and plastic casings. My first impression was the Sexy Mother Pucker seemed very sticky but very pretty. The nude color had the slightest tint that enhanced the natural look and shape of my lips. A second after I finish my application, I noticed the taste of this gloss...it was oddly familiar. It reminded me of something sweet...something from my childhood. What was it? Tootsie Rolls!!! Sexy Mother Pucker tastes just like Tootsie Rolls!

After a few minutes of wearing Sexy Mother Pucker my lips began to tingle. It felt like my lips were asleep--filled with pins and needle--but it didn't hurt. It just made me laugh. I have naturally large lips, so I couldn't really tell if my lip size was increased, but my lips did look nice (good shine, good color, good shape).

The final verdict? I've used lip plumpers in the past and have been a Lip Venom fan for years. Sexy Mother Pucker can stand up to Lip Venom, and at a much more affordable price point, Sexy Mother Pucker has a lot of advantages. The tingling is kind of exciting and oddly pleasant. Give it a try. It's a very decent product!

A Public Service Announcement

Hi everyone! Don't worry, I'll get back to a normal, fluffy beauty-related post later today...I just have a little safety reminder for you all.

I was in a fender bender this morning. Some girl slammed into the back of my car, denting my bumper, cracking my lights, throwing my tubes of lipstick all around the car. It wasn't pretty and I'm not thrilled about the whole thing. My poor little Beetle!

To make matters worse, the girl who hit me was on the phone when the accident happened. So, I just want to remind you all that when you're behind the wheel DRIVING is your #1 responsibility. Not talking on the phone, not eating, not doing your makeup. I know, I know--we've all multitasked while driving...I'm just asking you all to hang up, put down that cheeseburger, put your makeup on before you leave the house...and concentrate on the road and what's in front of you. As my family would joke, the life you save may vote democratic!

Lecture over...I'll be posting a Beauty Product of the Week later today. Woo-hoo.

Save Your Money!

This Mason Pearson brush costs $137.00

This Sonia Kashuk brush from Target costs $14.99

Did you know that some people pay $137 for a hairbrush? They do! That is how much a Mason Pearson brush with nylon bristles and boar hair will set you back. For that amount of money, you'll get a gorgeous handmade brush that promises beautifully healthy hair.

So what should you do if you want amazingly shiny manageable hair and don't have $137 to spend on a brush? Do what I just did: go to Target and pick up a Sonia Kashuk bristle and boar hair brush for $14.99. This is a wonderful brush! It stimulates the scalp and gives a polished look to your hair and it won't break the bank. I love mine--I just need to hide it from my husband who loves the way the brush feels and makes his long dark hair look.

Try it, you'll like it!

What Does Organic Mean To You?

Organic beauty is big business these days, but what does it mean if a product is labeled organic? Does it only contain certified organic products? Is made only of natural ingredients? Does the company follow any sort of environmental regulations? Or does the company simply slap on the word organic on an otherwise average product as a marketing gimmick, as a way of making an everyday product a high end product?

While I can't give you the answer to these questions, I can tell you that the FDA does not regulate organic goods. It's left up to manufacturers to decide when the organic label applies. Organic basically means that all the active ingredients in a product are grown without chemicals or pesticides. Products described as natural are supposedly made without the addition of some synthetic additives like chemical preservatives or non-natural colors or fragrances. To further confuse things, some beauty products are labeled as containing botanicals. All this means is that the product contains naturally derived ingredients and essential oils.

I've had issues with so-called environmentally friendly products in the past, and the lack of any real regulations over the organic/natural/botanical label further frustrates me. Consumers receive mixed messages every day. We hear that our lipsticks have lead in them, we hear that man-made chemicals are potentially deadly. But then we learn that no one is really paying attention to what goes into our beauty products. It's enough to almost make me what to stop wearing makeup (I said almost--don't panic!).

I wish I could tell you what you could do as a consumer, but I'm at a loss. My rule of thumb when it comes to makeup is that I try to buy products that are not tested on animals. I simply don't know what to do when it comes to yucky chemicals or toxins in my makeup because I'm not a scientist and I have no way of knowing what's going in to my favorite mascara. As a consumer I have to trust the manufacturer, and that something that's becoming increasingly difficult.

Do you have any thoughts or advice on this matter? Leave me a comment!

no!no! Yes! Yes!

Do any of you remember the EpiLady? It came out in the late 80s. I think we had one in our house--it was this hair removing device that had metal coils that painfully ripped the hair out of your skin. Because of its "revolutionary" design using theEpiLady resulted in (along with an unbearable amount of agony) smooth skin that remained hair-free longer than if you shaved. Though we had one, I never used it. It scared me.

I bring up the EpiLady because there is a brand new "revolutionary" hair removal product on the market (available exclusively at Sephora): the no! no! by nono (how annoying is that?). Available in three colors, the no! no! promises "hair density reduction at home, with no mess, no cuts, no burns, and no noise." It uses some brand-spanking new technology called Thermicon which uses gentle pulses of heat to remove hair. How does this work? Heat, but no burning, to remove hair? Consider me skeptical.

Here's what Sephora has to say about it "... a thermodynamic wire transmits the heat to the hair. This patented wire and built-in safety mechanisms has allowed for the adaptation of professional hair removal technology into a home use product. There's no pain, you don't have to wait for hair to grow long in order to remove it, and there is no skin irritation like in-grown hairs, red pimples, or rashes to cover up. no!no! is a treatment process for hair reduction and not a miracle cure for unwanted hair. Like any professional hair treatment, it takes time and dedication to achieve your desired results. The same holds true for the revolutionary no!no! hair removal system; with all the right moves, stubble-free, super smooth skin will be yours. Be sure to follow the directions closely for the safest, most effective results. No!no! is not recommended for use on the face. Additionally, the thermal heat signal destroys the hair, which is characterized by odor. Use the buffer to remove residue and maximize smoothness, then shower or bathe and follow with body moisturizer."

Hmm...sounds a little scary. At home sorta, kinda, not really electrolysis? Eek. While the idea sounds fabulous (hair "density reduction" at home, in private), I wonder how it works in the long run, if it damages your skin/hair, and if there are any other weird side effects that are either not yet known or not yet disclosed. I'll have to pay attention to see if any research comes out on this product. Since it costs $250, I don't think I'll hurry over to Sephora to try it out for you anytime soon!

Beauty Quote of the Day!

Sorry--it's Thursday again, and that means I'm either at work or in my writing class (if I don't blow away! We're having a windstorm as I speak!). I leave you to ponder a beauty quote today...

"Beauty is how you feel inside and how it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."
--actress and classic beauty Sophia Loren

Happy not-quite weekend!

Beauty Product of the Week: Shiseido Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow

What is it? Shiseido's revolutionary Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow is a "breakthrough eye formulation that was once thought impossible to create...Shiseido introduces unprecedented texture and dewy brilliance in intense, waterproof eye shadows. Cool to the touch, long-lasting, creamy with high moisturizing qualities and crease-resistant color. Each shadow can be used alone or in combination on the eyes or along the cheek and brow bones as a facial highlighter. This formula is made possible with Shiseido-exclusive W/O Solid Emulsion Formula Mechanism, a true innovation that's scientifically blends water, moisturizing ingredients, and pearl particles into an oil base for instant moisturizing effects with long lasting color." Available in nine shades at department stores and places like Sephora for $23.00 each.

What did you think? I haven't used Shiseido products before. While I am sure they are high-quality, I've been frightened by the cost. And the last thing I need to do to my budget is to go out and get hooked on super expensive, superior quality products. So it was with some apprehension that I tried this product out.

Normally I throw out the little makeup applicator that comes with cosmetics, but since the texture of this eye shadow was so different, I didn't want to use one of my brushes and opted to use what it came with. I'm glad I did. The applicator did a perfect job at getting the shadow onto my lids and made tracing the shape of my lid a snap.

The product itself is amazing. Everything I was afraid it would be: high quality, good color, long lasting, you name it. It goes on so smoothly and easily--at first I was convinced it was going to end up creasing. But this is a Shiseido product, and there's no way it would crease. It remained on my lid, looking perfect, until I washed it off. The eyeshadow felt very light and somewhat moisturizing at the same time.

The final verdict? Damn it. This baby is expensive, but it was amazing. The depth of color, the texture, the staying power...I hate to say it because I don't like to get you all excited about expensive things, but this is worth everyone of its 23 dollars. If it makes you feel any better, if you buy the Bare Pink shade (the color I tried out) during October, $5 will go to breast cancer research. Also, the more you use this stuff, the better for your skin--the moisturizing ingredients in the shadow will improve the moisture level around your eyes. So, I guess you could look at it as a two-for-one deal: eyeshadow and eye cream in one. If you have the budget for it and you want some really good, high quality eyeshadow, look no further than the Shiseido counter. You'll be glad you did!

Another Nail in My Coffin

I'm finding myself in a Halloween state of mind these days. Must be the falling leaves and that smoky autumnal scent in the air. While I don't think I'll get all dressed up this Halloween, I might just have to give myself a Halloween-inspired manicure.

OPI, the makers of the best nail colors known to woman, have their new Halloween line on the market--their Glow Out for Halloween line. They have four spooky nail lacquers: 1) Jack's Back--a shiny, pumpkin inspired orange, 2) Boo-Berry--a bewitching blue that glows in the dark (how fun is that?!) 3) Witch Way?--a lovely, dark as night black, and 4) Cool Ghoul--an eerie, silvery white. OPI also has some fun decals so you can make your own Halloween nail art this season.

Nail art isn't usually my thing, but I think a reverse French mani in orange and black could be just what I need this Halloween!

What Are You Going To Be For Halloween?

Halloween is creeping up on us and if you're planning on getting dressed up for the occasion, it's probably time to start planning out your costume. Halloween is my fourth wedding anniversary (yes, I was a bride on Halloween back in '03...and yes, I did, in fact, wear black!) and I haven't dressed up to celebrate the day in a while. The last time I did, I was a Domestic Goddess. I wore a cute black skirt, a white button down blouse, fake pearls, a cool French maid-style apron, and these crazy black, faux fur lined black rubber gloves. And I carried around a feather duster. Good times.

If you need a little inspiration for your Halloween costume or hints on how to do your Halloween makeup, here are a few sites to check out:

• Halloween Online Magazine
• Makeup Mania
• Ghoul Skool

And for all of you who come to my site in search of how to apply makeup like the members of the rock band, KISS, click over to this site to see the evolution of their Kabuki-style makeup. KISS could be a fun, easy Halloween costume for you and a few friends this year!

Since I'm a Halloween freak, be sure to leave me a comment letting me know what you're going to be this year, or what your favorite costume has been!

Friends and Family Time at stila

Trick or treat! Until midnight on Halloween (October 31st), you can buy fabulous stila cosmetics and save money! All you have to do is enter the code JOSHBFF when you checkout at www.stilacosmetics.com and you'll get 20% off PLUS free shipping on orders of $40 or more. Not shabby.

Go over and check it out. You can even get started on your Christmas/Hanukkah/Holiday shopping--stila always has great holiday gifts (like palettes, glosses, whatever!). stila also has some fun smoky eye kits, amazing lip colors, and fabulous "vintage" products. With 20% off plus free shipping, it's a good time to start restocking your makeup kit!

Well, Doesn't THIS Suck?

I am convinced that lead is the toxin du jour. It's everywhere and everything is being recalled thanks to it's existence. Now, THEY (whoever they are) are saying there's lead in our lipsticks. Son of a bitch! Is NOTHING safe anymore? I swear...life is a carcinogen! Read on if you must...


Don't Pucker Up: Lead In Lipstick

From the Department Store to the Drugstore: Lead on Your Lips

You might want to think twice before touching up your lipstick.

According to a new report, some lipsticks are contaminated with lead, from drugstore brands to designer labels.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics randomly purchased more than 30 lipsticks in four cities and sent them to a lab for lead testing. More than half came back with levels of lead.

"It's unconscionable that women should have to worry about lead in lipstick," said Stacy Malkan of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

The coalition's report found that 20 of the 33 lipsticks it sent to be tested contained lead. Higher levels were found in products made by L'Oreal, Cover Girl and Christian Dior.

Because there is no federal standard for lead in cosmetics, the advocacy group used the Food and Drug Administration's limits for lead in candy as a yardstick.

"We want the companies to immediately reformulate their products to get the lead out and & ultimately, really we need to change the laws and force these companies to be accountable to women's health," Malkan said.

But the trade group representing the cosmetics industry said the report is nothing new and, not surprisingly, the findings are not cause for worry.

"I think the levels are actually quite low trace levels really not something that would present a cause for concern," said John Bailey of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association.

Experts say pregnant women should be extra aware when it comes to lead-tainted products. "Lead is a proven neurotoxin. It can cause learning disabilities. It's also linked to miscarriage and infertility," Malkan said.

Bailey advises that all pregnant women consult their physician before choosing their cosmetics.

L'Oreal told ABC News that all its products are in compliance with FDA regulations and that it upholds the highest standards of safety for its customers. Proctor and Gamble, maker of Cover Girl, said that it stands behind the safety of its products and that all its products go through rigorous testing procedures.

LVMH, the company that makes Dior products, said it does not use lead products in its cosmetics. Trace amounts of lead exist in natural pigments, but the company considers those levels harmless.

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

Sorry! No Post Today

Sorry no post today! I'll be out all day at work and then all night at a writing class, so I won't have time for a proper post. I'll be back in no time with plenty of beauty and makeup news! Until then, happy (almost) weekend!

Beauty Product of the Week: Flip For It

What is it? mark's (a division of Avon) Flip For It is "the Winner of the 2007 HBA Annual International Packaging Design Award Honoring Industry Creativity and Packaging Excellence. This limited-edition, all-in-one lip, eye and cheek compact is back with new shades for fall. All the color you need for eyes, cheeks and lips in one portable compact filled with shades inspired by the fall fashion runways. One side holds two eye shadows and a blush. Flip it around and you have two lip colors and two lip glosses." Available in three different palettes from meetmark.com for $18.00.

What do you think? I love palettes and have wanted to try mark's Flip For It for while now. I have the Paris collection, and the blush and eyeshadow shades are beautiful. The eyeshadows don't have a lot of shimmer (a huge plus) and make my baby blues stand out. The blush is a flattering shade that looks very autumnal...not too pink, not too bronze...just right for this Goldilocks!

The lipsticks/glosses are pretty, but not dynamic. My one complaint about all palettes is that you have to have a lip brush in order to apply the gloss or lipstick. I only have two lip brushes and they are a mess to carry around, so if I had to change anything in the Flip For It palette, I guess I'd somehow throw in a couple portable lip brushes. Apart form that, I have no complaints!

The final verdict? For $18.00 you get two eyeshawdows, a blush, and four lip colors all in a convenient and nifty case. Are you kidding me? How can you go wrong? I've used Avon products in the past (though this is my first mark product), and I must admit to being very curious about other goodies they have to offer. I'll keep you posted if I see or try anything that stands out. In the meantime, the Flip For It palette is AMAZING! Get one for yourself, a friend...whatever.

You Don't Know Jack!

I've been on a soap kick lately. I've sampled goods from everyone from Lush to Vermont Organic Soaps. Then I realized my poor husband has had to deal with my pink, girly stuff..surely there must be a soap out there for him.

Thankfully, there is! Now available at Target are products from Every Man Jack, a company with a unique look geared for men who want to elevate their self-care routine. I snatched up a box of Every Man Jack body bars with wheat bran called Citrus Scrub and let my husband try it out.

The bars of soap are beautiful--they look like square blocks of dark wood, and they smell masculine and very good. The bar contains flecks of wheat bran that exfoliate the skin as you wash, and the citrus scent helps wake you up in the shower. Since its made of glycerin and a vegetable base, this soap is strong yet gentle and won't strip the moisture from your skin.

My hubby seems to like it, and I've even secretly used it a few times. It really makes my skin soft--something you can appreciate as the weather turns cold and your skin starts to flake.

So--get to know Jack. The product line is intriguing, the price point is right (3 bars of soap--long lasting soap--cost about $4-$5), and it's available at Target. What else could you want for your guy?

You Talk Too Much

Here's a question for you: when you go to a salon, do you like to talk to your stylist/nail technician, colorist, etc.? And...what does "salon etiquette" have to say about this?

THE CASE FOR SILENCE
I went for a pedicure on Friday and am now sporting very cute OPI Russian Navy toes. Since it was the end of a stressful work day, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to my nail tech. So I just sat there, nose in an Oprah magazine, barely saying a word. Was that rude? It didn't feel rude, but at the same time, the silence was obvious. As I sat there, I thought "wow--I'm an uppity bitch," but I still didn't break my silence or look up from Oprah to engage in mindless (and mind numbing) chit-chat.

My sister went to get a haircut yesterday with a new stylist, and when I asked her how everything went, my sister said, "the girl was very chatty." She further explained that the stylist asked lots of questions like "are you married?" "what does your husband do?" "do you have kids?" "are you going to have more kids?" and so on.

While these may seem like harmless, surface-y topics, they're not. My sister has a long-term significant other who would be her spouse if she were legally allowed to get married, but my sister will never have a husband. Though my sister has one child, she and her partner recently made the heart wrenching decision not to try to have more kids due to fertility issues. Now, should she have to divulge all this to a stranger she's pay $50 to cut her hair? I think not. And I know I'm tired of having to explain myself whenever anyone asks me why my husband and I don't want to have children. It's a personal decision that I have come to terms with--it's not one I like to discuss idly while getting my hair done.

THE CASE FOR CHIT-CHAT
There are some people I don't mind talking to. My former hairdresser (who I liked as a person but not as a stylist) and I would talk about books, movies, her tattoo, school, all sorts of safe but socially acceptable subjects. My current stylist likes to talk to me AND everyone in the entire room--that's fine. It makes the whole thing more fun, and we never get into real personal stories or lines of questioning.

Sometimes silence can be awkward. Once I was in the middle of a brow wax when I realized my waxer girl and I hadn't said more than a handful of words to each other. The room seemed heavy with the anticipation of sound--it was almost unbearable. Even more unnerving was the fact that she was very aggressive with the waxing and tweezing and my mid-wax realization that we had not discussed what I wanted from my waxing. I sat paralyzed, worrying I wouldn't have any brows left when she was done (thankfully, she did a pretty good job despite the lack of communication).

So...what do you prefer? Talking or silence? What's the right way to visit a salon?

What Does Your Lipstick Say About You?

That is the question Estee Lauder posed to me in an email recently. I thought--oh, how cute! They're going to tell me all about my personality based on what color lipstick I wear! I bet red means you're confident and sexy, pink must mean you're nice and caring.

So, when I clicked on the link, I was surprised to learn that they meant "what does the SHAPE of your lipstick say about you." Well, I snagged all the images off their site, so here goes. Apparently I am passionate. What about you? Leave me a comment!

Breast Cancer Awareness: Resources

Even though there are some amazing products out there whose proceeds go to breast cancer research, you might want to consider cutting out the middleman and donating directly to the cause.

Here are a few of the great organizations dedicated to breast cancer research and advocacy --donate money to support their work or just visit their site for more information (listed in no particular order):

• Susan G. Komen For The Cure
• American Cancer Society
• National Breast Cancer Foundation
  
• The Breast Cancer Site
• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
• 2008 Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk

If I missed anything or if you know of a local breast cancer resource of note, leave me a comment!

Beauty Product of the Week: Too Faced Lash Injection

What is it? Too Faced's Lash Injection mascara is "an exclusive, 3D formula that actually builds tubes around each lash. This " Lash Injection " has unique elastic polymers that curl, fatten, and stretch far beyond the natural lash. This adds extreme volume, curl and length for that costly lash extension look without any of the hassle, pain or commitment. You will no longer see clumps and lumps - but long, gorgeous, fluttering, new and improved eyelashes. With a flick of the specially-designed "GIANT" wand lashes will be injected with indelible, weather-proof color. Substantial percentages of jojoba and vitamin E deeply condition lashes to prevent breakage and damage that can result in broken or sparse lashes. Easily removable with soap and warm water or eye make-up remover, this amazing mascara doesn't dissolve and smudge like any ordinary mascara. Lash Injection comes off in tiny tubes, like little lash socks!" Available at Sephora for $19.50.

What did you think? I've mentioned before that mascaras always seem to either lengthen or add volume--they never do both. I've been on the hunt for a "do it all" type of mascara and have so far come away with either long lashes or full lashes...never long AND full lashes!

I've been using Too Faced Lash Injection for a few weeks now and I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised. The brush is huge and delivers a good amount of mascara to my lashes without gunking them up with clumps. Though this stuff smells very mascara-y, it's not tarry in the least. It makes my lashes look full and gives an amazing amount of length.

The final verdict? Finally! A mascara I'm happy with that isn't Great Lash! Lash Injection does exactly what it says it will--it gives me long, thick, gorgeous lashes. I especially like the way this mascara defines my lashline and works with my eyeliner to give my eyes a beautiful shape. This is my new go-to mascara...for not at least!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Round Up

While there are far too many to mention, here are some products designed/marketed as part of a Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign.

• Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, $35. You can soften, smooth and improve the condition and texture of your skin, knowing that $10.00 from your purchase of this limited-edition Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion helps support The Breast Cancer Research Fund.
• Bare Escentuals Pink Passion, $40. Celebrate mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, and women everywhere as they embrace life, renew hope, and fulfill dreams. The Pink Passion Rose Radiance Collection captures the natural beauty and essence of this positive approach to life. Set includes .03 oz Rose Radiance All-Over Face Color and .2 oz Rose Radiance Lip Gloss, plus a Heavenly Face Brush. A portion of the proceeds will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
• Smashbox BCA Blushing Pink Fusion Soft Lights & Brush Set, $59. Help Smashbox support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October! See what the power of pink can do with this limited-edition set of our illuminating silk-like Fusion Soft Lights powder in a new blushing shade that features the breast cancer ribbon and a makeup artist essential brush with a shiny pink handle. A portion of proceeds will go to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to finding a cure.
• Philosophy Shower for the Cure, $20. Shower For The Cure is Philosophy's Pink Ribbon shower gel - a creamy all-in-one formula that can be used as a shampoo, bath, or body wash. Its light, clean tangerine scent and touch of milk, proteins, and fruit essences provides a delightful experience for your senses. Shower For The Cure is a special, limited-edition product that represents the spirit of every woman. Philosophy will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Shower For the Cure are donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund.
• Sephora BCA Pocket Brush Set, $15. This tiny pink trifold case is perfect for slipping into even the tiniest of evening bags. The metallic pink faux-leather exterior is as stylish as the pink nylon interior is functional. Plus it has a hidden magnetic closure to keep your brush clean and tidy. Set includes five mini brushes with light pink handles: a powder brush, eyeshadow brush, lip brush, brow/liner brush, and a concealer brush. $1 from the sale of each brush set will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Goody!

Goody, the omnipresent hair brush and hair good manufacturer, is auctioning off pink hair brushes signed by celebrities over at ebay. New brushes are being auctioned off each week. Celebrities participating in this campaign include: Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Simpson, Amanda Bynes, the cast of Grey's Anatomy, and others. Click here to bid and here for the auction calendar.

If a signed hair brush doesn't float your boat (I must admit that this does nothing for me!), Goody is also offering some pink ribbon inspired products, the proceeds of which will go to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women with breast cancer to have the best quality of life possible. These much more enticing products include pink headband, scarves, hair brushes (sans autographs!), and elastics.

Did you know?
Race and Breast Cancer: Breast cancer does not discriminate--it affects whites, Asians, Hispanics, African Americans--everyone. According to the National Cancer Institute, white, non-Hispanic women have the highest overall incidence rate for breast cancer among U.S. racial/ethnic groups, while Korean-American women have the lowest rate. Among women ages 40 to 50, African-American women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than white women. African-American women also have the highest mortality (death) rate from breast cancer; Chinese-American women have the lowest death rate.

YOU Could Be In Elle!

To hell with America's Next Top Model! Here's a chance for you, an average, normal woman, to grace the pages of Elle magazine.

Elle wants to see your dramatic image change. Did you go from long to short hair? Brunette to kick-ass platinum blonde? From a makeup-free natural girl to a dolled-up glamazon? If so, send evidence of your transformation to the editors at Elle. They're going to pick one amazing transformation and fly that person out to NYC for a photo shoot for the January 2008 Elle. Sounds like fun.

For full details on where to send your photos, click here. Makeovers can be life changing and a lot of fun. If you've ever considered making a drastic change, I say go for it. Hair grows back, wacky colors can be corrected...what do you have to lose? And if you complete your transformation in time and send it to Elle, you just may become a top model yourself!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Mother Load

Estee Lauder has put together a great package of products to promote breast cancer research. Their 2007 Pink Ribbon Collection includes:

• a jeweled pink ribbon pin--wear this to show your support for the cause!
• a jeweled pink ribbon compact--keep tabs on your fab face. You'll look really good in this mirror because you're helping raise funds to stop a deadly disease.
• pure color crystal lipgloss in Eveyln Pink--a super lustrous color that will make your lips shine.
• high gloss lipgloss in Pink Ribbon--a rosy shade that will add some sparkle to your smile.
• pure color crystal lipstick in Elizabeth Pink--a sexy, sheer lipstick perfect for any occasion.

Estee Lauder has pledged $500,000 in donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Many of the Pink Ribbon products are so popular that they're only available at Estee Lauder stores (inside many department stores). For a store near you, go to www.esteelauder.com.

Dispelling the myths:
Myth: Men do not get breast cancer. Fact: Quite the contrary. This year it is estimated that approximately 1,700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die. While this percentage is still small, men should also give themselves monthly exams and note any changes to their physicians.

Myth: Having a family history of breast cancer means you will get breast cancer. Fact: While women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a higher risk group, most women who have breast cancer have no family history. If you have a mother, daughter, sister, or grandmother who had breast cancer, you should have a mammogram five years before the age of their diagnosis.

Too Faced Giveaway!

The good folks over at GlamBoulevard are giving away a tube of Too Faced lipgloss every week day in October (Oct 1 through Oct 31). Trust me when I say you want to enter. Too Faced makes some amazing products.

Here's the info...good luck:

October Giveaway

HOW TO ENTER: To enter, go to http://www.glamboulevard.com/tell-a-friend/ and tell your friends about GlamBoulevard. Each friend that you invite gives you an additional entry in the contest (i.e. chances are proportional to the number of friends that you invite on that day: 1 friend= 1 entry,10 friends=10 entries). All submissions are closely monitored therefore DO NOT send an invitation to the same friend over and over and DO NOT send invitations to yourself because you will be disqualified. Read more rules here.

Monday: Too Faced Status Gloss- Trophy Wife

Each Monday in October, get ready to win this vibrant rose with gold iridescence lipgloss.

Value: $18.50

Tuesday: Too Faced Status Gloss- Billionaire Boyfriend

You don’t need a billionaire boyfriend to win this sunset cooper lipgloss every Tuesday in October.

Value: $18.50

Wednesday: Too Faced Status Gloss- Trust Fund Baby

We cannot all have Paris Hilton’s trust fund, but you can all win this glimmering champagne pink lipgloss every Wednesday.

Value: $18.50

Thursday: Too Faced Status Gloss- Private Jet

Every Thursday fly away with this warm sparkling plum ligloss.

Value: $18.50

Friday: Too Faced Status Gloss- Sugar Daddy

A soft rose with gold iridescence lipgloss is given away every Friday in October.

Value: $18.50

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Bag It!

LeSportsac, the company that makes very cute, very practical bags, has designed an adorable cosmetics bag designed especially for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What's really great about this bag is that it only costs $5 and 100% of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!

This bag is currently available at LeSportsac.com. Or if you live in NYC, you can pick it up at the LeSportsac store at 1065 Madison Ave (located between 80th and 81st streets). The bag will also be included with the purchase of Estee Lauder pink products (more on that in the next post!) during the Estee Lauder breast cancer campaign.

There are going to be a lot of hot products hitting the market promoting breast cancer awareness, so pick up this great LeSportsac bag to stash them all in!

Though not every case is the same signs of breast cancer include:

• Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast
• Change in breast size or shape
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
• Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
• Pulling in of the nipple
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast
• An itchy, sore or scaling area on one nipple

Stay healthy! Do your self breast exams regularly and schedule a mammogram today if you're 40 or over or have any risk factors.