Cheap Tricks

A friend who once said that perfume was the single best luxury women are afforded. I love the sentiment, but I am just too fickle to stick with one fragrance all year. And, given the price of some of my favorite scents, my fickleness was lightening my purse a bit too much. If you’re like me, instead of splurging on a bottle each time you have a change of heart, try selecting a scent from manufacturers who put out travel size, roller ball or solid versions. To name a few, L.A.M.B., Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Carolina Herrera all have roller ball versions of their major fragrances. Tocca and Stila put out travel friendly solids. Philosophy, Kenzo and even Thierry Mugler put our purse sized spritzers. Michael Kors and Clinique even have mini fragrances with lip gloss built right in! And the piece de resistance... Sephora offers an entire perfume sampler package containing 10 or 11 perfume samples from famous perfumeries, allowing you to dip your toes in the water before jumping in. Trying on different personalities has never been so easy!

Eye Carumba!

In my experience, finding a product to treat under eye dark circles and lines is like finding a needle in a haystack. Truth be told, lotions and creams serve only to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines, they don’t fix them. And generally, dark circles are the result of blood vessels peeking through the delicate eye skin. So, skip out on products that promise to get rid of dark circles – it is just not possible. In my opinion, the best products treat fine lines with fillers and contain enough pearlescent color to scatter light and act as a highlighter on the dark circles. These provide a great base for concealers and can help you skip a step in your morning routine. Lucky for you, over the years I have found a needle in a haystack! Or 3, to be exact…

Cristal: Bliss Wrinkle Twinkle. This star uses intensive, time released line fillers to fill existing lines for 8 hours, exfoliates over time to reduce depth, and has a pearly tint to reduce the look of dark circles. Wear alone or under makeup. The downside – it’ll run you about $40 for 1.8 mL! Its like wishing on a star finally came true!

Signature Cocktail: Kiehl’s Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate. This luxurious under eye gel contains Vitamin C and bitter orange to treat and reverse damages and wrinkles, and patented Haloxyl to brighten and reduce the impact of dark circles by supporting capillaries. Orange you glad Kiehl’s thought this one up?!

PBR: RoC Retinol Correction Deep Filler Eye Cream. RoC’s under eye cream uses Retinol, Hyaluronic acid and essential minerals to fill lines, smooth skin and increase circulation and lessen the impact of wrinkles and dark circles, all while providing superb hydration that can keep you looking youthful even after RoC-ing out all night.

Mineral Makeup - Miracle of Science

Darlings, I haven’t forgotten you! Over the holiday, I was relaxing and ruminating over my makeup obsession. It occurred to me (ok, it was pointed out by a lovely friend) that I often mention mineral makeup, but have never really explained what it is or why I think it’s so great. Well, I confess, I wasn't sure why mineral makeup is special. I just appreciate what it does for my look. Ah, vanity... Anyway, my curiosity was peaked and I shut myself in the lab to do some research and testing. According to WebMD (yes, you read that right - http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/the-lowdown-on-mineral-makeup), mineral makeup is makeup made from naturally occurring minerals have natural pigment and don't contain the usual chemicals, dyes and preservatives found in other makeup. It is believed that some of the chosen minerals may have skin benefits, acting like vitamins applied directly to the skin to help reduce redness and puffiness, soothe skin and aid complexion. The glossies often recommend mineral makeup for sensitive skin implying that the gentler minerals will not aggravate skin as much. Personally, I have never liked wearing foundation and will do anything to even out my skin without the aid of gloppy tinted liquids. Mineral makeup has provided light coverage that makes my skin feel velvety smooth and look airbrushed-ly flawless. I suppose that’s because the chemical composition of the products doesn't irritate and allows for a much finer mill without clumping (less moisture in the crushed minerals than typical talc based powders means powders spread easier and absorb oils better), but I am no chemist. The smooth, soft look of my skin proves this theorem for me just fine! Interested in performing your own litmus test? Jane Iredale and bareMinerals are the most known mad scientists in this lab, but most drug store brands and even e.l.f. and Jane cosmetics have introduced mineral products, making a beautiful complexion budget friendly. Organic is not just for the body anymore!

Cheap Tricks

Now that you've applied your self tanner, you're wondering what to do about those streaks on your hands, knees or ankles. I've heard tons of possible solutions - exfoliate well before and after application, apply with a soft cloth to ensure even coverage, use a lemon wedge or hair color remover to remove stains, and, strangest of all, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! I know that the Magic Eraser is a pretty amazing little do-hickey. I'm not entirely sure how it erases those crayon marks or the baked on grease, but it does. So why not self tanner stains? Well girls, I tested it out for you. Much to my surprise, this puppy really works! The (intentional) streaks along my left elbow appeared to be a lot less noticeable after a few swipes with the Eraser and after a day or so are unnoticeable without close examination. Next time you're planning spring (er, or fall...) cleaning, add a box of Mr. Clean Erasers to your kit and squirrel one away for your makeup bag.

Here Comes The Sun

Our little blog face lift got me thinking about preserving the youthful glow of summer skin. Ok, really, I pretty much always have this on my mind this time of year, but that's besides the point. I am a big advocate of self-tanners for several reasons. First, of course, is that sun damage can lead to health problems and premature aging. Second, not all of us live in climates that allow us to safely soak up the sun all year round. Finding the right one can be tough, so here are a few suggestions for facial self-tanners that will keep your summer glow right through the fall.

Cristal: Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint. This liquid bronzer is a bit unwieldy for the clumsy or the casual self-tanner, but produces even, deep bronze tones with a simple application. Soak a cotton ball with this liquid and smooth over exfoliated skin, or mix with your moisturizer for a softer glow. Mix with your body lotion for all over tanning.

Signature Cocktail: Lancome Soleil Flash Bronzer. This lightweight, oil-free self tanning lotion, stocked with vitamin e, conditions skin and offers a tint to instantly perk up skin while the self tanner works its magic over the next hour. Simply massage onto exfoliated skin, being sure to blend well onto the jaw and hairlines for a lovely bronze glow.

PBR: Neutrogena Build-A-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning for Face. Neutrogena's creamy formula dries quickly, smells lovely and offers subtle sunless tanning, allowing you to build to your ideal shade of bronze by continued application. Neutrogena's customizable coverage makes this version especially good for fair skin tones or those who want a subtle touch.

Siren Song

In scouring the glossies and the most recent Sephora catalogue, one thing is clear. This fall, makeup is all about new takes on the classic smokey eye, adding more drama and bright colors into the otherwise dreary fall backdrop. Although a black-and-grey smokey eye is my preferred Friday night look, I thought it could be fun to try to recreate some of these looks at a lower price. These looks are fun and flirty, but definitely not for the faint of heart and certainly not for every day. Here's my take on the "mermaid" smokey eye (not to be confused with the "fish eye" or the "stink eye").

Choose two shades of green that work with your skin tone and complement each other. To steal from Stacey London - they don't have to "match", they just have to "go"! In Style recommends one shade from Cle de Peau and one from Bobbi Brown, but since this trend will surely ebb and flow like the tide, I suggest starting with something less expensive and like ULTA's house brand eye shadows in Envy (emerald) and Luna (teal). Or, if you're looking for something that will stand the test of time and trend, try Stila's Eye Shadow Duo in Kaijiki.

First, here is where I differ from In Style - I recommend lining your upper lash line and the the outer 2/3 of your lower lid with a darker green eye pencil like Elizabeth Arden's Smokey Eyes pencil in Pine. To me, a smokey eye is all about definition and blending, and I think the look really loses something without the inclusion of an eye liner to kick things off.

Next up, apply the emerald color on the lids and line the outer 2/3 of the lower lash line. Then sweep the turquoise shade from lash line into the creases on your eye lid, blending well into the green at the crease. Bringing the shimmery teal around your whole eye and into the inner corners will add light to an otherwise dark shadow, bringing all the focus to your eyes. Finish off with two coats of mascara - maybe even try a navy one, if you're feeling daring - and let your inner Siren sing!

Cheap Tricks

Relaxation is the key to making it through the school year, getting the kids back on track, or just unwinding after a long day at work. One of my favorite ways to unwind is to relax in a long hot bath. I used to spend my cash on bath bombs and fancy bubble baths, but to tighten the budget, I decided that I could live without expensive bath products like Lush's (AMAZING!) Bath Bombs. Instead, I fill a tub and add about 1.5 c of epsom salt and a few drops of Johnson and Johnson's Lavendar Calming Baby Oil. The epsom salt soothes sore muscles and the baby oil softens skin. If you're really a multitasker, mix some salt and oil in your hand (2 parts salt to 1 part oil) and use as an exfoliator to smooth out soles and 'bows.

Grade A Skin

With Labor Day fast approaching and a new school year beginning, we're shedding summer sun dresses for fall's pressed button downs. To start off right, its also important to slough off the summer's sun damage from your skin. Plus, cooling temperatures can dry out your skin and leave you scaly. To stay ahead of the curve, I use body scrub religiously, to keep my skin moisturized and soft. Afterall, fabulously soft skin goes with any season!

Cristal: Origins Salt Rub. This sea salt based scrub contains kukui, macadamia, soy and sweet almond oils to saturate skin while you slough away dead skin cells. As an added bonus, oils are laced with spearmint and rosemary for an invigorating fragrance sure to wake you up and get your day started with a little pick-me-up.

Signature Cocktail: Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish. The rich, creamy scent of Kiehl's ultra moisturizing body scrub is like a warm blanket on a cold morning. Plus, this creme based scrub spreads over skin easily to provide light exfoliation, and rinses easily, leaving skin smooth, soft and delicately fragranced.

PBR: Boots Mediterranean Melon Sugar Mint Body Scrub. Carry the summer into the fall with Boots' Mediterranean scrubs. Thousands of sugar granules to slough off dead skin cells and leave your skin fresh, polished and soft. And the mint infused canteloupe scent will raise your mood and bring fond memories of your summer picnics.

Touche!

YSL Touche Eclat. Well, in my welcome message, I promised I would tell you if YSL's Touche Eclat really is a miracle for $40... This much lauded product is billed by YSL as a "highlighter" but often recommended by makeup artists as a concealer. What I've found is that it is somewhere in between. The light weight fluid with built in applicator brush provides light coverage, but the light bending pigments of the highlighter fluid have a way of scattering light to lessen the impact of dark circles. I did like this product very much when used along with a dark circle counter-balancing fluid like Smashbox's Photo Op, but found, sadly, that, on its own, Touche Eclat did not provide enough coverage for my dark circles. Still, if you are looking for a product to brighten your eye area very subtly, or possibly layer over concealer, this may be the product for you. I would recommend this product for those who have minimal discoloration under the eye or are looking for a product that can even out smaller ruddy spots on the skin, but as a concealer, I'd stick with something a little less pricey like L'Oreal's True Match concealers.

Cheap Tricks

If you haven't guessed already, I am a big fan of highlighters. I think this genius little idea has revolutionized makeup, making it easier for those of us who don't have makeup artists on reserve to camouflage little imperfections with a swipe of a brush. Because I am a product addict, I use a couple of differnet kinds of highlighters to perform various magic acts. But in a pinch, there is one product that can work double time - an off-white pearl eye shadow. The off-white pearlized color flatters all skin tones and doesn't look to heavy on the skin. Use an eye shadow brush to sweep on the inner eye. Line eyes with it to appear bright eyed. Sweep a swirl on your brow bone to add dimension to the eye area. Sprinkle on cheek bones to accent facial contours. Try Cover Girl Eye Enhancers eyeshadow in French Vanilla or Champagne to add a diamond shine for pennies on the dollar.

Highlight of My Week

In fighting the good fight against dark circles, I followed the advice of beauty editors everywhere and sought out a good highlighter. I discovered that a little highlighter goes a long way. Simply apply a dab on the brow bone and inner eye corners and your eye area is instantly brightened. The highlighter serves to draw the light away from dark areas, making eyes look more open and dark circles less noticeable. You'll look like you got plenty of beauty sleep witht he help of these little gems.

Cristal: Nars The Multiple in Copacabana. Nars delivers sheer highlights with this multi- purpose pearly stick. Apply to eye corners with an angled brush, then smooth on the brow bones. For added dimension, apply to cheek bones to create a dewy look or add over your favorite lipstick for a touch of shimmer!

Signature Cocktail: Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright. This pinkish highlighter pencil promises to brighten eyes and is friendly to most skin tones. Apply just above the brow bone too to create eye dimension. Benefit's version offers coverage similar to a stick concealer - be sure to blend well!

PBR: JK Jemma Kidd for Target Spotlight Intense Highlight Crème. JK’s highlighter stick offers light weight highlight with a subtle amount of sheen and comes in two different shades to allow you to select your perfect shade. Try the After Show for warm skin tones, or Red Carpet for cool skin tones.

Eye Wonder

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes mascara has reecived a lot of hype in the glossies, but on the street I'd heard mixed reviews - it smudges easily, it runs, it doesn't produce better results than other products. Well, naysayers aside, curiosity got the better of me and purchased Givenchy's Pheomen'Eyes Mascara. wow. WOW! I have to admit, I agree with the glossies. Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes delivers as it promises: long, separated lashes with minimal effort. It is Givenchy's unique round brush that moves this product one step beyond other lengthening/separating mascaras, because it allows you to easily coat the inner, finer, harder to reach lashes (as opposed to traditional stick applicators that can be unwieldy around the delicate inner corners of your eye). The mascara itself is a mid-weight mascara, so if you're partial to a Dior Show or similar heavy weight, this might not be the product for you. And, admittedly, the brush takes a bit of getting used to - since it is round and shorter than your usual mascara brush, it requires application of mascara to only a few lashes at a time - and it does run more easily than others (ladies, don't use this on your wedding day!). Still, the result is so great that the positives far outweight the negatives! For the money, Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes is easily one of the best of the bunch.

Cheap Tricks

My earlier posts will tell you that I fully support the idea of skipping days between washing my hair. I was skeptical at first, but found that after about two weeks my hair was softer, less oily and all around healthier looking. Detergents in shampoos can strip hair of too much oil and can also have an impact on color. Even still, some days my hair appears to be a bit oily or even a little lifeless. My stylist recommended a dry shampoo. It worked fine, but was a bit too pricey for me. Instead, I dug through my cabinets and found my trusty bottle of baby powder. Success!! The baby powder not only freshened up my hair, it lifted the roots ever so slightly, giving my hair more bounce and style. Sprinkle a bit into the palm of your hand and massage carefully into the root of your hair, focusing only on those areas that need a little lift (like the crown and your hair line). Sprinkle a little on your skin too to keep you fresh on humid days. Johnson’s offers a range of baby powders for about $4.50 for 15 oz, proving a much better deal that more expensive dry shampoos. I like fresh scent of the Cooling Cucumber Melon version. Hey, if it’s safe for baby, it’s good enough for me!

Green with Envy

To be honest, I didn't really understand what "sulfate free" hair care was all about. Little did I know that shampoos and conditioners typically contain sulfites, silicones and parabens, which, when washed down your drain, end up in ground water that eventually comes out of your tap! These chemicals, though effective in cleansing and conditioning, could be harmful to humans over time. So, in an effort to help keep my water clean, I tested out a few "all-natural" shampoos and conditioners. These hair care lines offer luxurious lather and smoothing powers without the scary health effects!

Cristal: Fekkai Au Naturale shampoo and conditioner. Fekkai's hair care lines let you bring the luxury home. His Au Natural producs reduce sulfates and parabens fit right in, giving a rich lather, leaving your hair clean and soft without the harsh chemicals.

Signature Cocktail: Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving shampoo and conditioner. Kiehl's Sunflower line smells divine and leaves you feeling fresh and guilt free. Bring your bottles back to Kiehl's when empty and receive a free goodie!!

PBR: L'Oreal Paris EverPure haircare. True to form, L'Oreal offers a range of sulfate free hair care products that protect hair color and help you reduce your chemical contributionl. Try the Rosemary Mint line for a fresh burst!

Grin and Bare It

I have always been ambivalent about lip color. I love Gwen Stefani’s bright red pout, but each time I try it, even with less intense color, I feel like I'm 5 again and playing in my mom's makeup bag. A nude lip can also be difficult to pull off too - certain shades, especially in matte, create a zombie like look by blending lips into the background of your skin (great for the runway, not so much for real life). Personally, I want lip color to enhanced my natural lip color, not blend with my skin color, so I set out on a lip color mission. Taking a queue from Jennifer Anniston, I checked out Dior’s Gloss Addict, but found it too sticky. After about 27 failed attempts at sticks, glosses, creme glosses and tinted chapsticks, I felt discouraged - most offered too few choices or not the right amount of pigment. Finally I re-discovered MAC's Tinted Lip Glass, which gave me exactly what I was looking for - lipstick like color with the ease of a gloss that never feels too sticky. Plus, MAC's nude shades tend to be more like true bare lip color and less like a nude skin color. I like Soft Wave for fairer skin, Lust for medium skin, and Shock-o-Late for dark skin. Try a nude lip with sheer eye makeup for day, or with my smoky eye look from 7/17 for a flirty evening look.

Fake It

Let's face it, sometimes summer's leisurely days turn into steamy evenings, leaving you exhausted. Some mornings, even hitting the snooze button a few times won't cut it. You've got an important presentation or a brunch date and need to erase the signs of your rowdy night on the quick! Believe it or not, you don't need expensive eye creams or layers of makeup. A few simple tricks and you'll be bright eyed in no time.
1.) Reduce puffiness by placing a cold cloth over your eyes while you hit the snooze button.
2.) Layer a light weight highlighting fluid like Smashbox's Photo Op under your eyes to diffuse the light and lessen the impact of dark circles.
3.) Apply a concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin tone. Stick concealers like L'Oreal's Ideal Balance Concealer give great coverage.
4.) Apply a shimmery white eye shadow like Sephora's Pearl Mono Eyeshadow in Pearl No. 1 to the inside eye corners and lash line to brighten and eliminate any redness around your eye.
5.) Open your eyes by curling your lashes with an eye lash curler like Shu Uemera's to finish off your fresh, rested look. Finish up with your usual makeup application and start your day looking like you got your full night of beauty rest. No one has to know the truth ;-)

Cheap Tricks

So your skin needs some TLC but you're budget doesn't include facials or peels. Well, certain things, like extractions and peels, should be left to the professionals. But for a small investment, you can give your skin the attention it needs with a 30 minute home mini-facial. Start by steaming your face over a sink full of hot water. Apply a cream cleanser like Noxema and massage in small circles for about two minutes to clean deep and stimulate circulation, then rinse. Exfoliate next with a gentle scrub like St. Ives' Apricot Scrub, also massaging gently for about two minutes, and rinse again, being sure to remove all scrub particles. Steam once more, then apply a quality clay masque like Origin's Active Charcoal Mask to clean pores. Allow to dry, then remove using a soft face cloth. Apply a light astringent like Neutrogena's Clear Pore Toner to seal pores, then follow up with a generous application of your moisturizer. Glow on with your bad self!

Bronze Medal

Sometimes I'm reluctant to use self tanners because I don't want to commit to a longer tan. In looking for a hint of temporary color, I've tried a number of bronzers and found that many of them left my skin too orange. Others clearly looked like makeup. Still others were too dark, leaving my skin looking almost dirty! After many failed attemps, I found what I was looking for. Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzing Gel. This gel based bronzer comes with a built in applicator brush making application a snap and provides light weight coverage. Finally, a hint of translucent color that looks natural and, unlike powders, won't rub off on your clothes. Guerlain's gel bronzer provides such natural looking color that your friends think you took a mini-vacation. Don't worry, it'll be out little secret.

Fairy Dust

There were times when I was almost convinced that the key to an ever-elusive dewy complexion was other-wordly magic like fairy dust! No matter which products I used, I just could not get my skin to glow like I’d seen in the magazines. Sigh. Well, by some magical happening, my “fairy dust” theory wasn’t that far off. After much wishing and hoping, the beauty gods have bestowed upon us a panopoly of light weight, shimmer enhanced powders that provide just a hint of color and shimmer to brighten skin up and give us that ethereal, pixie-like glow once reserved only for goddesses-among-women (a.k.a. celebrities).

Cristal: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick. IMHO, this little compact is as valuable as a brick of gold! Bobbi Brown’s very finely milled powders produce a flawless look that feels comfy on the skin. The Shimmer Bricks compacts contain multi-colored strips of shimmer powders that blend together with a swirl of your brush. The vibrant, glowing result is no figment of your imagination!

Signature Cocktail: Bare Escentuals All Over Glow. Bare Escentuals tore onto the scene offering complete makeup solutions in finely milled mineral powder form to provide maximum coverage with minimal effort. This light-weight mineral powder delivers what it promises – virtually flaw-free skin with a light, dewy finish that feels as if you’re not even wearing makeup. Heavenly!

PBR: L’Oreal Bare Naturale All-Over-Mineral Glow. L’Oreal’s answer to the mineral makeup craze offers an easy to use product perfect for a first foray into shimmer powders for those who aren’t quite convinced of my Fairy Dust Theory, offering a basic range of sheer, slightly shimmering color designed to subtly enhance your natural skin tone and make you a believer!

Splurge Alert!

Ok, I do not leave the house without a rosy, blush-induced glow, but I’m very particular about the amount of shimmer and pigment. The line between glowing goddess and rodeo clown is a thin one as far as I am concerned. At long last, I have found blushes with the perfect balance of pigment, shimmer and texture – Nars! You’ve probably read about the aptly named Nars Orgasm Blush - yes, it's really that good - in In Style or Allure, but don't limit your horizons there. Nars offers a range of shades in powder or cream that mimic skins natural flush resulting in a look that’s you-enhanced. Nars shades are sheer, which gives you absolute control over your look and have great staying power so you won't have to constantly reapply. I love Nars Cream Blush in Cactus Flower – its bright orange hue is intimidating, but its shimmery pigment is actually very delicate, making it friendly to lots of skin tones, and gives a warm glow to summer bronzed skin. If powder blush is your poison, try Dolce Vita for fair skin or Exhibit A for darker tones. If you splurge on nothing else in your makeup bag, splurge here!

Save my Sole

I’m all about home maintenance projects. No, I don’t mean painting walls and trimming the shrubs. In an attempt to manage my budget and still look put together, I’ve been running my own personal spa, giving myself home manicures and pedicures, and even mini-facials in between occasional spa visits. I haven't quite been able to pedicure my feet to the smooth softness that my nail salon can, so I went in search of a tool that could help eliminate my dry skin. Now, I’d seen the commercials for the Ped-Egg and found them rather revolting – I mean who has THAT much dry skin on their feet and why is it necessary to collect it all in a little egg shaped doohickey!? Ew. Nonetheless, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to add the Dr. Scholl’s version, the Smooth my Sole microfile, to my aresenal. Beauty is all about sacrifice after all! Sadly, I was a bit disappointed! The Smooth my Sole microfile didn’t really seem to remove any of the dry skin on my heels and toes and the smoothing file didn’t make much difference either. This isn't to say that other ladies won't have great results, but personally I'd use the money for other products like Swissco’s Natural Pumice Stone and a healthy slather of Boots Botanics Foot Butter (both available at Target for about$7.50 total). Finish off with a fun, neon polish like Sally Hansen's Shrimply Delicious and voila! fabulous feet for about $1 a pedicure.

Cheap Tricks

I'm part Greek, so I think its almost a genetic predisposition that I love olives as part of any meal. We've also heard the medical community speak volumes about the benefits of olive oil's heart healthy fats over processed and hydrogenated oils. But did you ever consider olive oil's beauty benefits? Try using olive oil as a cleanser! "Isn't the point of cleanser to remove oil" you say? I know it sounds scary, but if your skin is irritated from summer sun, damaged by city spawned free radicals and stress related breakouts, olive oil could be just the thing to bring back your glow. First, remove your makeup with a simple remover like cold cream. Then, steam your face slightly by leaning over a running hot sink. Smooth on a tiny bit of oil and massage gently into your skin. Remove using a hot washcloth and follow up with a light moisturizer. The result is supple, clear skin. It has been suggested that the Mediterranean diet could help you live longer, and just maybe this regimen will help you bring out your inner goddess!

Ulta-mate Paradise

Sometimes stocking your vanity table can be a hassle – running to Bloomingdale’s to select a new blush from the Nars counter, then to Walgreen’s to pick up a fun eye shadow pallet to experiment with, and on to The Body Shop for some yummy body lotion. Wouldn’t it just be easier if there was a Bloomie’s-Walgreens-Body Shop hybrid for your makeup shopping convenience? Enter Ulta! If you haven’t already checked out this makeup lover’s paradise, I’m sorry to say you’ve been missing out! This cosmetics superstore carries everything you need to primp and prep for your summer fun. Check out the perfume aisle for anything from Pacifica Body Lotion to Chanel No. 5. The high-end makeup aisle presents brands like Lorac, Shiseido, Stila and Tarte. Save some coin by comparing your high-end color to more pocket-friendly brands like Revlon, L’Oreal and Covergirl or Ulta’s home brand living right across the aisle. Not only does this superstore carry a full arsenal of makeup products, you can find your face wash, ionic hair dryer, professional shampoos and even some personal care products that you’d long forgotten (like Freeman’s Sugar Scrub and Calgon bath products!). And with an in-house salon, you can complete your makeover in one sitting. Sign up for Ulta’s rewards program to receive coupons and special savings. Stop in or visit the website - http://www.ulta.com/ - trust me, you won’t regret it.

Hint of Tint

In the summer months, foundation can make your skin feel like its suffocating. Really, you probably don’t actually need that much coverage in the summer. Instead, try a tinted moisturizer. These products offer light coverage that you can customize by cutting with moisturizers and luminizers. Remember – it’s summer – show some skin!!


Cristal: Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer. Bobbi Brown offers high quality makeups that contain yellow undertones to produce a more natural look than other foundations and tinted moisturizers (which can be too pink-y for summer bronzed skin). Your skin will hardly notice this Tinted Moisturizer, but you’re eyes won’t believe how creamy and dewy your skin looks.

Signature Cocktail: Prescriptives Traceless Skin Responsive Tint with SPF 8. Prescriptives was a pioneer in the concept of light diffusion via a moisture packed base and light reflecting pigments to give the illusion of flawless skin with minimal work. Prescriptives unique formula is designed to blend right in resulting in an almost airbrushed finish.


PBR: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Tinted Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. If you haven’t guessed, I am a huge fan of Neutrogena’s products, and this product is no exception. This product combines moisturizer with vitamin E to attack free radicals, sun protection to prevent skin damages and wrinkles and just the right amount of coverage to leave your skin glowing.

Cat’s Eye View

Cleopatra was the original beauty queen. Cosmetics have advanced quite a bit since those very early days, but her patented cat’s eye look has been spied for decades on the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Angelina Jolie, among other Hollywood A-Listers. Here's how to bring out your inner queen:

Dust a light shade on your lids like Covergirl Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in French Vanilla or Champagne. Close your eye and gently pull your lid toward the outer corner of your face with your opposite hand. Next, line the top lash line only using a good quality liquid liner beginning on the outside of your eye, starting about 1/8” past the lash line and sweeping inward and upward to meet the lash line (sort of like a sideways parenthesis). Continue the line toward the inner corner of your eye, working slowly to stay close to the lash line. I love Lancome’s version in Ice Black for a shimmery look, or try Noir or Blueberry for more drama. Finish with mascara, peachy blush and a nude lip to let your eyes do all the talking.

Mane Event

Keeping your hair color looking vibrant can be difficult in the summer sun. Harsh shampoos and UV rays can change hair’s natural (and not so natural) pigment leaving your hair dull and brassy. Hats and scarves are always a good option, but sometimes you want to let down your hair. To keep your color locked in, try these lightweight hair products that offer thermal or UV protection. Your hair will thank you!

Unwind: For a light, barely noticeable fix, try Fekkai’s Marine Summer Hair Beach Comber Leave-In Conditioner. This two-in-one lightweight conditioning spray works through tangles with the greatest of ease, offers UV filters to reduce fading and leaves hair feeling soft and manageable.

De-Stress: If weather and humidity stresses your tresses, try John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum. This silicon based smoothing gloss offers superb smoothing and de-frizzing, but offers extra protection against heat and UV damage that you won’t find in the traditional Frizz-Ease serum. A little goes a long way so use sparingly!

Cheap Tricks

To me, a trip to the nail salon is like a 30 minutes break from the daily grind. I just love my weekly trips to see Lily and have my tips shaped and polished. But sadly, manicures are also the first thing to go when I'm trying to cut costs since I'm fairly adept at painting my own nails. Still, its just not the same - I am usually in too much of a hurry to enjoy the same relaxation that the salon offers and I just don't have the same polish selection! As a compromise, I get a manicure every other month and in between full work-ups, I head to the salon for a polish change. This typically takes about 10 minutes and costs half the price of a full manicure, saving money, time and the aggravation of a DIY home manicure! Ah, a 10-minute vacation...

Bling Without the Ring

Sun and fun can take its toll on your manicure in summer months. It is time to put away the vampy polishes in favor of something as easy and breezy as a day at the beach. Here are some of my favorites:

OPI Princess Collection Nail Polish in “Princesses Rule”: This sheer, sparkling pink gives you a touch of sparkle at your finger tips and its clear base means its easy to touch up when you’re on the go.

Covergirl Boundless Color Top Coat in “City Lights”: This silvery-gold top coat adds a hint of sparkle. Wear alone or over your favorite polish to add that touch of glamour to your picnic in the park.

Essie Nail Polish in “Mademoiselle”: All this glitter a bit too daring? Stick with the classics and try his sheer pink formula. It flatters all skin tones and stays clean from the board room to the surf board.

To help that manicure maintain its beauty, use a moisturizing hand cream like Bigelow Dr. Hiosous Quince Hand Lotion. Its creamy texture and light scent are perfect to keep your hands soft and your manicure chip free all year.

The Fountain of Youth

Unless you’re the heir to a Greek shipping fortune, chances are that you can find better uses for your money than a teensy pot of wrinkle cream that costs as much as a month’s rent. The pursuit of eternal youth can get overwhelming with so many products claiming “revolutionary” cures and touting “patented” ingredients sure to keep you looking 22 at any age. The truth is, skin will age and all we can do it take good care of ourselves to look our best at any age. When selecting an anti-wrinkle regimen, repeat this mantra: If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. Be realistic about what your skin needs – retinols and antioxidant serums can be harsh on healthy skin resulting in over-drying and irritation. Instead, try using a lighter anti-wrinkle cream for “preventative maintenance” or use a night cream with regular moisturizer in the morning to keep that youthful glow. My go to has been Nivea Anti-Wrinkle Q-10 Night cream. Nivea’s Q-10 products help restore youthful radiance by supporting cell growth and collagen production, keeping your skin resilient and soft without the harsh chemicals. After about two weeks I noticed a decrease in my smile lines and my skin felt springy and soft. Since everyone’s skin is different, here are a few other suggestions:

Cristal: Biotherm. Biotherm’s product line consists of a tiered approach recommending certain products based on age and desired result ranging from preventing the first signs of wrinkles at age 30 to lifting and firming to restoring skin density in your 50’s. The Age Fitness Night Power 2 cream gives great results without feeling too heavy or breaking the bank.

Signature Cocktail: Avon Anew. Avon's come a long way from the tiny lipstick samples and Christmas tree-shaped bottles. Avon’s Anew line offers anti-aging products and three-step skin systems targeted towards your skin’s unique concerns. Try the Anew Rejuvenate Day Revitalizing Cream to put some spring in your skin’s step.

PBR: Neutrogena. Neutrogena has claimed an unrivaled position in the beauty products market offering customized skin care without the expensive consultations. For wrinkle fighting, check out Ageless Essentials for wrinkle protection, Ageless Intensives for more concentrated wrinkle fighting, or Ageless Restoratives to support skin density and tone in mature skin.

Workin’ For The Weekend

You’ve made it through a hellish week and its time to blow off some steam. You’ve chosen the perfect outfit for your festivities. Shake it up and add a smoldering eye to that impeccible style. Follow these fool proof steps for a simple yet sultry eye and turn up the thermostat.

1. Apply eye shadow to lids. Be as daring as you like but select a shade that won’t overwhelm your eye color – think chocolate browns for blue eyes, plums for green eyes, and greys and blues for brown eyes. My favorite base for a smokey eye is Tarte's luucy, I'm home.

2. Apply liner in dashes along the top and bottom lash line. This gives you better control and helps avoid goof ups. Blend dashes using a spong tipped applicator. For small eyes, line the outer 2/3 of your eye. MAC and Covergirl produce superb gel based eye liners that glide on easily. For the more steady handed, try Stila Smudge Pots.

3. Dab highlighter or a white shimmery shadow into the inner corners of your eye and on your brow bone to create depth.

4. Finally, apply two coats of mascara and dab away any smudges carefully using a Q-Tip dipped in your moisturizer. Smokin'!

Cheap Tricks

It may seem a ‘twee bit out there, but Vaseline is probably the single most cost effective beauty product you can buy. That’s right, I said beauty product! Use it on your cuticles instead of expensive oils to keep them soft and neat. Rub a dab on your lash line for eye definition without the mascara. Skip the pedi and massage a dollop into your feet before you sleep (just be sure to wear socks so you don’t slip when you get up in the morning!). Smooth on your lips for a kissably soft pout. Pat a tiny bit on your lids instead of eye shadow primer. All this is just the tip of the iceberg! With all the money you could save by using Vaseline instead of 5 or 6 separate products, you can splurge on that new Guerlain bronzer.

Garden Party

There’s nothing more uniquely feminine than a signature scent that draws in the object of your affections like a moth to a flame. Of course, we can be fickle both in love and fragrance. That’s why I love Jo Malone fragrances. Inspired by nature’s unusual constituents like Vetyver, Gardenia or Fig, these lush fragrances evoke the feeling of a stroll through blooming gardens and exotic spice markets. Colognes can be worn alone for clean but unusual fragrance or layered together to create a custom fragrance to suit your mood. Like it spicy? Try Nutmeg & Ginger. For a fruitier burst, try Nectarine Blossom & Honey (mix with Nutmeg & Ginger to add some sass). If you’re more traditional, try the Red Roses or Tuberose versions (mix together for a romantic feel). Layer in White Jasmine & Mint to add a refreshing twist. Feeling overwhelmed? Have no fear. Jo Malone employs fragrance “stylists” to help you customize your signature scent and send you on your way with mix ‘n’ match samples just in case you change your mind. Just follow your heart (or nose) to your signature scent, be it a single note or a harmony.

Saving Face

Over the years, I’ve tried countless cleansers, searching for one that will deliver the suggested result of radiant, clean skin. There have been a few disappointments, but we won’t dwell on the past. IMHO, these cleansers deliver what they promise. I think you’ll find that it’s worth the investment - with skin this beautiful, who needs to waste money on foundation?

Cristal. Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser. The fragrance is a bit sharp and it is on the pricey side at $38/6 fl. oz., but just a tiny pump of this cleanser packed with Alpha-Lipoic Acid and DMAE goes a long way. Perricone delivers a cherry of a cleanser that miraculously reduces the look of pores, fine lines and blemishes like no other that I have tried. Use as part of your normal routine to rehabilitate stressed out skin.

Signature Cocktail. Origins Never A Dull Moment Cleanser. With papaya extract and a light gel-like lather, dead skin and impurities are gently sloughed away, reducing the appearance of pores and leaving your skin glowing. Origins is known for their use of natural ingredients, but did you know they will recycle your empty bottles from any cosmetics co. and treat you to a free sample just for acting with a conscience? Bonus!

PBR. Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Exfoliating Cleanser. Much like Origins, Aveeno makes products with a conscience and uses all natural ingredients to produce astounding results at wallet-friendly prices. This cleanser's gentle exfoliation ensures a deep clean while shitake mushroom extract supports skin regeneration to reduce the laugh lines and crow’s feet. For the money, this product can’t be beat.