(Guest Post by Beauty Editor Michelle)
I am always on the go. I am also late a lot. Which means that I am always leaving things behind that I need for the day. My planner is frequently left on my bed, my cell phone just barely makes it into my bag everyday and little things like lip gloss and hair ties are always missing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached into my bag to freshen up my gloss and found that I didn’t have any in my bag. That’s why I love Cargo’s DailyGloss. It’s a 30-day supply of lip gloss in three different shades, packaged into convenient, medicine-like bubble packages. Each pod has a separate peel back layer and enough gloss in it to cover your lips. They’re great to keep in your bag for emergencies or for when you want to travel light. I pack them when I go to my sister’s house, because she’s always trying to steal my favorite lip gloss!! $12 at Sephora. CARGO DailyGloss™ 1
February 2007 Archives
I have as little as eyebrows as I do eyelashes and the only pencil I've ever found to do the job and look natural is Laura Mercier eyebrow pencil. It's triangular shaped so you'll have to buy the sharpener but the shape makes it easier to grip and define. You just go along your natural brow line in tiny little strokes and they blend in and look like little hairs rather than a streak of liner. Some prefer eyebrow brushes but I like using both (I use the Shu Uemera brow brush or you can try the bacteria free brushes Michelle suggested). First the pencil and then the brush to blend even more. I use brunette even though I have black hair, you should never get black colored eyebrow pencil (as I was talked into in the '90s by a Chanel specialist. Those old photos of my black brows and red lipstick make for a very scary dragon lady) $18 at Sephora
photo source: usmagazine.com
Everyone is laughing at her but I want to cry for her and the two little babies sitting at home wonderin' where their mama is. Britney shaved her head this week and though people say it's another attention seeking antic, this is more than a pantyless peek-a-boo show, this a serious plea for help. She said she did it because she doesn't want people touching her anymore (probably the men who use her for publicity and then sell stories of her sexual appetite to gossip mags). I blame her parents for pushing her into the life of a teenage pop star, look at where she is now, in re-hab and the babies without their mama. Hope she turns her life around but she'll probably end up an insane alcoholic and angry lesbian (she's been taking female go go dancers back to her hotel room in NY). After being married to that piece of shit, K-Fed, do you blame her for turning to women for comfort?
Update: After just hours, Britney's decided she is not screwed up enough for re-hab and checks herself out.
Post by Beauty Editor Michelle
I’m not sure if everyone knows this, but your makeup brushes breed bacteria. It’s a harsh but true fact. It actually makes sense when you think about it. They’re going from your face, to a pot of makeup to your face to another makeup case, sometimes with little to no cleaning in between. Since we all don’t have the time to sit and clean our makeup brushes as well as we should, I recommend Sephora’s Antibacterial Brush Set. It’s an easy way to protect yourself from some of that bacteria. The set includes five brushes all treated with a hypo-allergenic, non-toxic compound that attacks and destroys harmful bacteria. It also comes with a bottle of shampoo, formulated to care for the brushes. The set is made by Sephora, so the brushes are good quality and built to last and they come packaged in a pretty silver case. It’s an easy step to take to protect yourself, your brushes and your makeup from the bacteria that naturally grows on it, harmful or not. $42 Sephora Antibacterial Brush Set
I never thought I'd end up in Texas. I was born in Taiwan and raised for the most part in Potomac MD, moved to Los Angeles to attend USC and traveled around the world for almost 10 years after graduation. I moved to Dallas when I married the love of my life but was convinced I'd never fit in Texas. One day, my husband dropped me off at a place called North Park Mall, and as I entered the cosmetics department at Neiman Marcus, I knew I was home. It is an oasis for beauty junkies with the most incredible energy! Women here love their cosmetics and are not afraid to show it! Those of you who have been there know what I am talking about, there is really no other department store like it (they sell more make up per sq. ft than anywhere in the world!), not even the cosmetic department at Saks in New York has the hustle and bustle of North Park Neiman Marcus. I go there often as they seem to receive the latest and greatest before anyone else. Today I happened upon the YSL counter and saw the most adorable lipstick called Lip Twins. It has a little lip brush attached with lipstick and gloss in the double compact that you flip around. So cute and so fun! My favorite is the Sparkling Beige, will be the perfect complement to use with my bronzer this summer. $30 at Neiman Marcus
My grandmother (now 93 and still rockin' good skin without any plastic surgery) taught me at an early age to drink 16 ounces of room temp water first thing in the morning and I can not thank her enough for this habit! Do it before you eat breakfast for it to be most effective. Repeat at least 3 more times throughout the day. I bought 16oz tumblers from Pottery Barn so I don't have to worry about measuring the ounces.
Why room temp or warm water? The Chinese believe that ice is to blame for many of the malaise that effect the female body (especially during our monthly cycle). I don't know if it's superstition or if this theory has medical validity but ask any Chinese woman who is not completely westernized and she'll tell you the same :) Go ahead, try it, all you risk is having great skin and good health.
More than Diamonds and furs, Asian women covet pale flawless skin, they are obsessed with whitening treatments as having brown spots is feared as much as wrinkles! The women in my family never, let me say that again, NEVER, sunbathe or participate in any kind of outdoor activities that may subject their porcelain skin to sun damage and (gasp!) hyperpigmentation. I, however, thought they were all silly and decided a deep dark tan was the answer to beauty. I spent my teenage years basking in the sun slathered in baby oil which ultimately resulted in unsightly freckles that I've been trying my entire adult life to rid of (ah, the wisdom of youth!). I've tried everything from laser peels to aggressive products from Dr. Obagi with bleach and hydroquinoe that were harsh and dried my skin. All were quick fixes but the minute I stopped the treatments, my freckles would come back twice as dark as before!
I tried Skinceuticals Phtyo+ gel a couple of years ago and I've finally managed to reduce the pigmentation dramatically. Phyto+ is a botanical gel combined wtih kojic acid and arbutin, that work synergistically to help break up hyperpigmentation. It's not a quick fix and it does take a while, but it's gentle on your skin and very hydrating so your skin is dewy and moist all day long. And if you discontinue use, your freckles do not come back darker than before! For Caucasian skin, it will even out skintone and fade hyperpigmentation from sundamage as well. It's most effective when combined with Skinceuticals C+E ferrulic acid during the day and under your moisturizer at night. It's available through dermatologists but I get mine at the The Cooper Spa 214-383-1010 Call to order and receive free domestic airmail shipping when you mention Beauty Snob! International Beauty Snobs please click here for a location near you. $65 USD
I do not have time to read other blogs these days, with two websites to manage and a very active two year old, I am lucky if I return my emails. But when I do have free time, I check out my Web Snob partners' sites. One of them is Blogdorf Goodman, written by Annie Gugliotti. Initially, I was drawn to Annie's blog by it's very clever name but kept going back for her funny and often insightful posts. I am so thrilled she agreed to participate in our weekly profile and share her beauty secrets with everyone.
Post by Michelle, our Guest Beauty Editor
Mascara is a tricky thing and for a long time I avoided wearing it. It runs easily, smudges even easier and was all around a headache for me. Unfortunately I’m not blessed with naturally long and lovely eyelashes so after years of boycotting mascara I gave up. I tried a lot of mascaras before settling on Benefit’s BADgal Lash Mascara. It’s great because it’s relatively inexpensive, but better than many of the higher end products you pay lots for. It gives a nice plump to your eyelashes and most importantly doesn’t run!!! I spent five minutes coaxing my contact lens back into my eye after I put the mascara on and my eyes looked as good as they did before my contact popped out. If you’re dying for the newest and hottest Twiggy / Edie Sedgwick style (Sorry Sienna, they did it first.) pair it with BADgal Kohl pencil and some nude lips. $19 at Sephora. Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Lash Mascara
Note from Beauty Snob- Michelle- I will send you a tube of Awake Stardom mascara girlfriend :)
When asked my #1 beauty must have, I always say SUNSCREEN! I usually use Skinceuticals 45 spf but recently discovered Solar Protection Pads from Park Avenue's favorite Dermatologist Neal Shultz. Now you have absolutely no excuse not to apply sunscreen throughout the day, especially if you live in LA and other cities where the weather is 80 degrees throughout the year. It's so easy to wipe on your face and body and only takes 10 seconds. They also include a cute little travel container the size of a compact so you can keep the pads in your bag at all times! Dr. Shultz has been treating Park Avenue Princesses for over 25 years and now you can treat yourself to his skin care products right at home! He has an extensive line of products for all skin types so check out the site to see what best fits your needs. Free USPS shipping for Beauty Snobs in the United States (international orders and expedited shipping charges will apply). Enter the code SNOB at checkout and you'll be on your way to flawless skin! Price: $30
