February 2007 Archives

I've received many emails from fellow Beauty Snobs inquiring about my beauty routine so lest you think I was kidding about my 10 (sometimes 12) steps each night, here it is. (But I don't pile them on top of each other, I use different products for different parts of my face! My forehead has different needs than my chin as do my nose, cheek and under eye area, etc.) It takes me almost 30 minutes to go through my ritual of potions, lotions and facial massage but my husband keeps me company by telling me about his day at work (well, he lies on the bed and watches tv but still, he's keeping me company). Do you see why I am the high maintenance snob and Kelly is the practical snob?

1. The Diamond Ice Lift mask from Natura Bisse is gentle enough to use every other night and it's very hydrating so it's two masks in one. I like using it often because it exfoliates gently and allows my products to absorb into my skin.

2. Glycol Peel 50% from Natura Bisse - I use this 2-3 times a week, apply 3-4 drops and rinse off in 15 minutes for at home glycolic peel.

3. I use Skinceutical's Phyto + gel religiously 2 times a day to keep my pigmentation at bay.

4. Diamond Drops from Natura Bisse is a regenerative serum to counteract aging cells. It's also great to do my facial massages with, next time you get a facial, ask your esthetician to teach you a few massage moves to keep your facial muscles toned.

Beauty Snob was invited to THE most exclusive pre-Oscar event of the week, for two days (Thursday and Friday) celebs flocked to the Beverly Hills home of Hollywood's favorite eyebrow guru, Anastasia Soare, for Natura Bisse facials and eyebrow grooming by the master herself. We are so thrilled to be included in this fabulous event, Nominees and A- list stars headed over to get beautified before the big night and to grab goodie bags (first class tickets to Dubai, $3,000 watches, Coach bag, Jimmy Choo bag, just to name a few!)

Beauty Snob reports behind the scenes of the Oscars with exclusive photos!

(Post by Michelle)
So last Friday an exciting thing happened. When I got home from work there was a box from Lancôme waiting for me. Inside the box was my Proenza Pink lipstick, almost a whole week before it was supposed to be released! When I first tore open the packaging and twisted up the lipstick I was a little afraid. It was so … pink. It sort of looked like I wanted to bite it off and chew it like bubble gum. I tried it on anyway. Buyer beware – This color is not like the Behnaz color that was flattering on everyone. It’s decidedly less universal. The color is less pink on your lips, but is still very pastel. If you have paler skin, I recommend blending it with a darker color and covering it with a gloss. If you’re darker skinned I still recommend the glossy finish because the color is a little thick and looks unnatural on. I would have preferred if the color had a little shine to it, but there’s none. It’s a nice color to have for the spring / summer season but when you’re headed out to buy it remember, sometimes what looks good on the runway doesn’t always translate to real life. Get it while you can, it’s limited edition and the wait-list at stores has been open since the beginning of February. Available now online at http://lancome-usa.com.

(Post by Michelle)
So, awards shows are great and everything and it's really nice to see talented people get recognized for the great work they do, but the best part of them is the day after when we get to dish about what they were wearing!! I present to you, SNOB vs. SLOB.
SLOB: I’m usually apathetic about Jessica Biel. She’s pretty enough and I give her a virtual high five for having been connected with Justin Timberlake. But last night, she looked awful. Why was she even at the Oscars? (And don’t tell me the Academy was giving her a retro-active award for “Stealth.”) Let’s start with the hair. She looks like the Bride of Frankenstein. The crimping was okay, but she should have either left it loose or pulled it tighter, like Cate Blanchett did. This is just silly and way poofy. If you can get past the hair, take a look at the blush. This picture doesn’t do it justice. It was BRIGHT pink. It matched her dress exactly! Twenty-Four hours later I’m still wondering who let her out of the house like that. Also (Those of you who watched the red carpet show will know what I’m talking about) and I’m trying to be delicate about this, but invest in some pasties. If you’re trying to be serious actress, the way to start isn’t by telling the whole world that the red carpet is a little drafty.

SNOB: I love Maggie Gyllenhall. She’s incredibly talented and has managed to make a name for herself without flashing any of her no-no bits. Her look on Sunday night was flawless. The bright red lip was a wonderful flash of color in an otherwise toned-down look. She played it safe with the rest of her makeup letting her lips be the focal point. At first glance the feather in her hair seemed out of place and weird, but when I saw it with the whole look (A delicious dress by Proenza Schouler) it made sense. We give her props for the understated earrings and bare neckline. The dress and hairpiece spoke for themselves and we’re glad that Maggie didn’t feel the need to over accessorize.

I have combination skin, normal on my cheeks but extremely oily in the T-zone so I am careful what I use in that area. I used to get facials every two weeks because my black heads were so out of control but I discovered Skinceuticals Daily Moisture Pore Minimizer and my nose has been black head free ever since! It's really amazing because nothing has been able to control the grease and shine on my nose and forehead. I use this only in the T-zone and apply my moisturizer on my face, neck, and chest. Again, I get my Skinceutical supply at Cooper Spa, you know the drill. Call for free domestic USPS airmail shipping, expedited and/or international shipping charges will apply. 214-383-1010 Price: $50

(Cotton Candy blush color outlined in black)
Did you know that it's the brightest of blushes that look the most natural? I use a big powder brush to put Benefit's Dandelion all over my cheeks, layer a light touch of Bobbi Brown bronzer on top of that, and then a bit of Cotton Candy from Awake in the apple of my cheeks to finish the look. I blend it all with this amazing Finishing brush from Laura Mercier to avoid looking like a clown and I get that healthy glow usually achieved after a 10k run or an afternoon in bed with your honey :) All items available at Neiman Marcus.

Plunging necklines and long flowing locks ruled the red carpet at the 79th Academy Awards tonight. Everyone played it safe as not a single swan was spotted all night. Here are some of the best Snobs and worst Slobs of the evening.

SNOB: My favorite look of the night. Reese Witherspoon has never looked more beautiful (although her smile looks forced and her eyes look hauntingly sad). The hair: loose and casual but impeccably groomed, The make up: smoky and sassy, and The gown: a stunning Nina Ricci by Olivier Theyskens number with flowing trains. Flawless!

SNOB: Loose finger waves frame Jennifer's face creating a soft backdrop for her pretty make up. Nude lips and glowing skin make for a gorgeous Oscar look! I am not crazy about the silhouette of the empire waist gown on her killer bod but I love the jeweled neckline- very Liz Taylor a la Cleopatra. This is the type of dress that'll spark pregnancy rumours but she looks lovely if a bit matronly. By the way, is it me or does her lifeless hubby give off a "Weekends at Bernie's" vibe?
(J.Lo was one of the A-listers who got a Natura Bisse facial at Anastasia's home on Friday- more details to come!)
Check back often as I will be updating throughout the night!

We are so excited to feature our French speaking, beauty lovin' friend, Julia, this week. She's been a loyal supporter of Bag Snob and now Beauty Snob cuz she's All About the Pretty! You are in for a real treat as Julia shares beauty secrets with us that her bestfriends may not even know about. Thanks, Julia, for participating and for being so pretty!

Post by Michelle
So, light was the word in all the tents this season. Pale makeup with light eyes and in some cases, nude lips were on all the models. (It was especially flattering on some of the lighter haired girls. Jessica Stam looked, as a friend put it, "Like a pixie!") There was a rare scarlet lip thrown in there, but for the most part, pastels ruled the palates this year. It’s a pretty and fresh and a look I highly recommend for this spring. If you’re planning on adopting this look, one bit of makeup I highly recommend is NARS The Multiple in Copacabana. I know, I know, I’ve preached about my love for NARS here before and eventually you’ll get sick of hearing about it, but they’re a quality company and The Multiple is a quality product. It’s an all-in-one, multi-purpose makeup stick that goes on creamy and turns to a nice powdery finish. You can literally use it anywhere you’d like although I’d recommend something more specific for your lips. Copacabana is an awesome shimmery pink shade that will have you sashaying down your street like it was a runway! $36.50 Nars The Multiple Copacabana

(Guest Post by Beauty Editor Michelle)
I recently went on a cruise in the Caribbean. It was amazing. Everything was beautiful and I spent hours relaxing in the sun. I came home refreshed and tan, with a healthy glow that my skin has never had before. My friends all wanted to know my secret. They had come home from the Caribbean, sun burned and dried out, their skin a dry shell of what it had been before the trip. The first thing I told them was obviously, sunscreen. The sun is so strong there that even though I slathered on 65 SPF every half hour, I still got tan. The second thing I told them was moisturizer, but we’ve talked about that here before. The last thing was a good facial cleanser. After you’ve been in the sun all day and you’ve had sunscreen and sand all over you, you need a cleanser that’s going to get it all off your face without drying it out. I use Clinique’s Liquid Facial Soap. It’s an amazing cleanser that gets all the grime off your face without drying it out at all!! It comes in three different types, depending on the level of oil in your skin. It’s so gentle that you can even exfoliate after and your skin won’t hate you for it. Clinique has even packaged the soap in little FAA size approved bottles so you can take it with you wherever you travel! $18.50 for a package of three. www.sephora.com