Product Review: Maybelline Intense XXL Volume + Length Waterproof Microfiber Mascara

This is the worst mascara I've ever tried. I do have one confession to make, though. When I bought it, I must have been in a hurry and I never noticed that it was waterproof. I still don't think it's all that obvious on the packaging. This does come in a washable formula, which I might like slightly better, but it wouldn't solve the main problems, which are:
1. This mascara is very dry. Even on the first use, it was so dry that it was hard to sweep on my lashes and just seemed to stick to them instead of gliding on. That made the application a real pain.
2. Another thing that made application annoying is the microfiber basecoat. Normally, I don't mind an extra step, but I do like it to do something, and this just didn't. So it's extra work, without any payoff.
3. This mascara barely had any effect on my lashes whatsoever, besides darkening them a little bit. It didn't produce any noticeable volume, and maybe just the slightest bit of length. Really almost useless. I might as well use water on my lashes. It would be much more dramatic.
4. Perhaps it's the microfiber, but it seemed to flake off a lot and get into my eyes, irritating them, even though they are not usually that sensitive.
5. Even with a combination of gentle cleanser and makeup remover, it wouldn't come off. This may be a plus if you are looking for a truly waterproof mascara, as this seems to score in that regard. I didn't have a special oil-based makeup remover handy to remove this mascara, and that might have worked, but I've read similar complaints elsewhere.

Why try this when you can buy the classic Great Lash or L'Oreal Voluminous? I can't think of a single good reason.

The Best Face Palettes for Daytime, Ever

This category covers the very best face palettes available for daytime, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity

The Beauty Insider's Picks
1. Sue Devitt Starbrights (“Lyra”): Cheek and lip colors are my favorites, and this small palette features a stunning trio: a creamy gel blush that blends easily, and two shades of softly pigmented gloss that last all day. “Lyra” is a trio of sheer, vibrant reds. $35
2. Body & Soul Cosmetics Gigi Vanity Case: This highly flauntable, retro case is a bargain to boot, combining six eyeshadows and three lipsticks in one slim staple. Eyeshadow shades feature a variety of neutrals and deeps, from matte beige to matte black, and the lipsticks range from pale to plum. The only thing missing is a blush. $32
3. Hard Candy Lunch Box: This is so affordable, adorable, and amazingly portable, it’s hard to believe it contains twenty products and all the brushes you need. Hard Candy packs six lip- glosses, eight eyeshadows, a mini mascara, an eyeliner, two concealers, a powder blush, and a shimmer product into this toy-sized case. $25
4. Lola to Go: I love this racy red suede case, which is stocked with a blush, two lipsticks, two lipglosses, and two eyeshadows, plus the tools you need to pull off a pretty face, anyplace. $45
5. Stila Media Darling Palette (“Press Savvy”): Adorable packaging and cute concept aside, this is one practical palette. “Press Savvy” features a great selection of neutral shades, including four popular shadows (“Jezebel,” “Barefoot Contessa,” “Starlight,” and “Sun”), “Luce” lip color, and “Peach Shine” lipgloss. $36
6. Too Faced Quickie Chronicles (“The Temptress”): I love the kitschy, retro packaging, and the fact that it packs four lip colors, three eyeshadows, and a blush, plus applicators, into one slim case. The shades in “The Temptress” are described as “passionate plums,” with smoky eyes, deep neutral lips, and rosy cheeks. $25
6. NARS Makeup Artist Palette (“Tropical Heat Wave”): NARS palettes are legendary, and with good reason. The sleek black cases are stocked full of flattering, wearable shades. “Tropical Heat Wave” features the best selection of colors for my medium olive skin: the deep, sun-drenched shades are simply stunning. $70
7. Face Stockholm Everyday 4 Pan Compact: This slim black compact lets you streamline your makeup bag with your four favorite everyday shades. Mine contains “Myrrah” brow powder, which doubles as a taupey-brown shadow, pearl eyeshadows in “#11,” a warm shimmery brown, and “#29,” a soft white with shimmery gold highlights, and “Strawberry” blush. I use this almost every day. Palette: $8; pans range from $16 (shadow, blush) to $20 (brow powder)
8. Paula Dorf On Set Face Kit: This is the ideal set for the makeup maximalist, like me, who can’t bear to leave anything behind. Two slim black compacts fit inside a cool black leather case, with room to spare for your other essentials. Not that you’ll need much, because these two compacts have almost everything you need. One features eight shades of eyeshadow, a primer, and a great applicator; the other, eight sheer lipsticks, a cream blush, and a lip brush. $75
9. LORAC Greatest Hits CD (“CD1”): Sure, I love the concept and packaging, but I like the colors even better. This is one of the most neutral, versatile palettes on the market, with five shades of warm-toned shadows, a blush, a lip/cheek tint, and a gloss. $48
10. Popette Palette (“Naturally Popette”): I was tempted to dismiss these palettes because the flashy compact seemed too gimmicky to be good, but I was wrong. This palette features a great assortment of high-quality, neutral, “you-only-better” shades: four shadows, a blush, a lipstick, and two lipglosses. $28

The Popular Vote
1. NARS “Rapture” Palette, $70
2. Urban Decay Face Case in “First Date to Pin-Up” and “Sellout” (tie), $34
3. MAC Nordstrom Holiday 2003 (Discontinued)
4. Philosophy The Little Black Book, $37.50
5. Sonia Kashuk Neutral Face Palette, $14.99
6. Stila Double Duty (Discontinued)
7. Stila Look Book (Discontinued)
8. Laura Mercier Face Paints, $50
9. Bobbi Brown Face Palette for Cheek & Eye in “Basics”, $37
10. Bebe Face/Day (Discontinued)

Hair Color Camps

It seems to me that there are two types of women: those who are adventurous when it comes to coloring their hair, and those who aren't.
My sister and I fall into the second category. After a run-in during high school with a box of carrot-top red hair color, I've been very hesitant to recreate the trauma. Plus, I have medium-toned olive skin and dark eyes, so brown hair just seems to be a natural for me. So these days, it's all about maintenance. My stylist conceals my premature grey hair with a similar deep brown, a shade or two lighter than my natural color. It's the color my hair would be if I spent time in the sun.
My sister takes hair color phobia to an extreme. She is in her early thirties and has never colored her hair, and she prides herself on her virgin locks. They have never been chemically altered in any way. But tonight, when my mother suggested highlights, she didn't balk for a change. She actually said she had been thinking about it. Which got me thinking about it...
Can two color-shy sisters step up and make some serious changes? We'll see...

Lipstick is Back!!

First of all, I need to apologize for not blogging for the last couple of days, but a nasty virus attacked my computer and I am just now up and running again!

I just got done reading the latest issue of Allure, where they announced that lipstick is back for fall. For those of us who consider ourselves lipstick connoisseurs, it never really left. (I remember sitting my little sister down when I was in high school, and explaining to her why you absolutely needed half a dozen shades of red lipstick for different occasions. I'm that obsessed). Lipstick is the first makeup you use when you are young, and it's a rite of passage. Plus, it instantly transforms your face! According to Allure, the trend on the runways is dramatic lipstick in three shades:
Deep Red
Hot Pink
Rose with Gold

I'm in heaven. So now I'm on a quest for a new lipstick wardrobe for fall! I'll definitely start with Lancome's Pout a Porter collection, and quickly get on the waiting list for the color inspired by Peter Som's collection. (Yes, there's a waiting list, and it opens September 1). It's a gorgeous deep burgundy red! Then I will try some shades from MAC's new Mattene line. The finish on these lipsticks is sort of a creamier, shinier matte, which sounds perfect.

Anyone else on a lipstick kick? What shades will you be buying for fall?

The Best Blushes, Ever

This category covers the very best blushes available, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity

The Beauty Insider's Picks
1. Stila Blush Duo (“Cruise to Cairo”): Whether you’re cruising to Cairo or chilling in Chicago, this duo has two different shades, a soft rose and a warm brown, that will match any mood and suit any ensemble. Layer the rose over the brown for depth and brightness. Even the packaging is adorable. Unfortunately, it’s discontinued. Maybe my pleas will bring it back! N/A
2. NARS Blush (“Torrid”): This silky, smooth powder blush glides on effortlessly and wears beautifully, all day long. “Torrid” is a must have for tanned olive-skinned women—the peachy pink shade with golden shimmer is so flattering. $22.50
3. Tarte Cheek Stain (“Tickled Peach”): This is my favorite gel cheek color. The push-up applicator is so easy to use, and the formula is foolproof. Unlike many gel blushes, this doesn’t accentuate flaws. It just delivers a natural flush of color. “Tickled Peach” is misnamed—it’s a sheer flattering red. $26
4. Cargo Blush (“Sonoma”): I love these great round tins, which give your brush plenty of room to move, and the intensely pigmented, moist blush. “Sonoma” is a fabulous bright plummy pink with a hint of red that works well for darker skin tones. $22
5. Jane Blushing Cheeks (“Blushing Petal”): This bargain blush has the luxurious, creamy, finely-milled texture and intense pigment of luxury lines. “Blushing Petal” is a soft, light pink with warm, slightly peach tones perfect for a natural look. $3 (approx.)
6. LORAC Sheer Wash (“Sheer Emotion”): This cheek stain comes in a convenient, and cute, roll-on applicator (almost like a retro deodorant, but cooler), making it less messy than many gel blushes. “Sheer Emotion” is a gorgeous berry that wakes up tired complexions. $24
7. Luscious Blooms (“Coral Gables”): I love the beautiful flower tin compact with a mirror, and the conveniently packaged duo inside. Each tin features a blush shade and a complementary highlighter. “Coral Gables” pairs a “warm rose” with a “gold shimmer.” Gorgeous. $26.50
8. Physicians Formula Planet Blush (“Bronze ‘n Blush”): If you can get over the cute-but-inconvenient packaging and the useless brush, this blush is a real find. Like the Luscious duo, above, this pairs a blush and a highlighter. The highlighter is subtle enough for everyday, and gives skin a flattering iridescence without causing breakouts. “Bronze ‘n Blush” combines a bronzer with a gold-flecked highlighter. $11 (approx.)
9. Too Faced Flushed Blush (“Who’s Your Daddy”): I adore this blush duo. It combines a matte powder blush with a shimmery one in a similar shade. Swirl them together to give skin a rosy, glowy flush. “Who’s Your Daddy” combines a cool plum rose with a shimmery mauve. $18.50
10. MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush (“Dollymix”): Sheertone Shimmers, as the name implies, are similar to MAC’s foolproof Sheertone blushes, but with some shimmer. The formula is very sheer and wearable, and the shimmer is so subtle it’s suitable even for daytime—much more glow than shimmer. “Dollymix” looks bright pink in the pot, but goes on sheer and glowy for a look like the name implies—clear true baby-doll pink. $16.50

The Popular Vote
1. NARS Sheer Blush in “Orgasm”, $22.50
2. Stila Convertible Color in “Lillium”, $20
3. MAC Sheertone Blush in “Pinch O’ Peach”, $16.50
4. Jane Blushing Cheeks in “Blushing Petal”, $3 (approx.)
5. Benefit Dandelion, $26
6. L’Oreal Blush Delice Sheer Powder Blush in “Sugar ‘n Spice”, $8 (approx.)
7. Lancome Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in “Miel Glace” and “Aplum” (tie), $26.50
8. Benefit Benetint, $26
9. Bobbi Brown Blush in “Blushed”, $19
10. Cargo Blush in “Topeka”, $22

Doing My Own Nails

You know that old song: "I'm a woman." One of the lines is "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never ever let you forget you're a man." Have you ever listened to the entire song? It's inspiring and intimidating all at once. Mostly, how I respond to it depends on my mood. On "I am woman hear me roar" days, it makes me feel like I can conquer the world. But most days lately, when I'm struggling to get Lola and I through another hectic day, it makes me feel inadequate. After all, the woman in the song can do a million things at once, while I can't even find time for a nail appointment.
Which brings me, at last, to the topic of today's blog. Tonight, I did my own nails. And I didn't even do an easy neutral. I painted my fingers and my toes with OPI "I'm Not Really a Waitress." It took forever, and, to my discerning eye (I've been to some great manicurists in the past) it doesn't look anything like a professional manicure. But these days, I have to save time wherever I can.
Which is why, even though I'm going to a ball tomorrow night, I will probably spend less than an hour getting ready, and that includes the shower and the hair. So there will be no body mask, no spa appointments, no elaborate eye makeup. These days, it's all about efficiency. Who knows? I might discover that cutting some corners isn't the end of the world.

The Best Bronzers/Highlighters Ever

This category covers the very best bronzers and highlighters available, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity

The Beauty Insider's Picks
1. LORAC Oil Free Luminizer (“Gold L2”): Candlelight in a bottle. This amazing highlighter makes you look like you glow from within, without a lot of shimmer. It’s versatile, long-lasting, and fragrance-free. “Gold L2” is amazing on my medium olive skin, but “Pearl L1” would be better for paler complexions. $28
2. Prescriptives Magic Illuminating Liquid Potion: This highlighter reflects light to deflect attention away from flaws, and gives skin an amazing glow. I love mixing it with foundation for a natural daytime look. $30
3. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (“Bronze”): This amazing, multi-purpose product reminds me a little of Guerlain Meteorites, but bronzey instead of pearly. Five different stripes of color in one compact let you create different effects. I swish a brush across all the colors to use it as a bronzer, or use the colors individually for cheek and eye color. $35
4. NARS Bronzing Powder (“Laguna”): This bronzer manages to make you look radiant, healthy, and tanned, without ever looking orange or muddy. The color is not too opaque, so your skin shines through. “Laguna” is a gorgeous warm brown with subtle gold shimmer. $26
5. Face Stockholm Bronzer (“Marseille”): This matte bronzer gives a truly natural, tawny color to skin, without shimmer or shine. Plus, you have a choice of several, wearable shades. “Marseille” is a beautiful, versatile medium bronze. $24
5. Guerlain Terracotta Moisturizing Bronzing Powder (“No. 2”): This classic bronzer has been around forever, and it’s still unbeatable. If you can get past the dated fragrance and packaging, it won’t disappoint. The color is featherlight, moisturizing, matte, and lasts all day without streaking or turning orange. “No. 2” is one step up from the lightest shade, for a hint of color that’s never muddy or murky. $34
6. TIGI Bed Head Dominatrix Powder (“#3”): This product is so amazing, I don’t know why it isn’t more famous. Maybe that’s why it’s discontinued. It’s like a pressed powder, a bronzer, a blush, and a highlighter in one. Dust it all over the face for a bronzey sheen with an iridescent glow, or just onto cheeks as a blush. A TIGI rep said the new Glamma powder, $25, is comparable, but it’s just a good pressed powder with some light-reflective properties. N/A
7. Sue Devitt The Gold Coast Bronzing Powder: Darker skin tones will love this highly pigmented, yet still sheer and wearable, bronzer. A little goes a long way to give you healthy color with subtle gold shimmer. For fairer faces, the Sunkissed Gold Coast Bronzing Powder offers color that’s subtle and super-natural. $30
8. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector SPF 20 (“Gold”): This golden liquid is water-based and loaded with sunscreen, making it a perfect pick for sunscreen-shy oily skin. Skin looks dewy, with a subtle iridescent shimmer. $36
9. Isadora Bronzer: This newly launched Swedish line is as easy on the budget as it is on the eyes. This massive compact is a real steal, and the sheer powder inside gives skin and décolleté a naturally tanned glow. $15 (approx.)
10. Giorgio Armani Sheer Bronzer (“#3”): This product is aptly named. It is one of the sheerest, most natural bronzers on the market, delivering subtle, buildable, elegant color with a dry finish. My pick, “# 3,” gives medium olive skintones a little lift. $35

The Popular Vote
1. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in “Bronze”, $35
2. MAC Bronzing Powder in “Golden”, $18
3. Benefit Dandelion, $26
4. NARS Bronzing Powder in “Laguna”, $26
5. NARS Multiple Makeup Stick in “Copacabana”, $35
6. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, $28.50
7. Cargo Bronzer in “Light”, $25
8. Urban Decay Baked Bronzing Powder, $20
9. Benefit Hoola, $26
10. Lancome Star Bronzer Bronzing Powder Compact SPF 8 in “Dore”, $35

Narcissism vs. Neglect

I've always considered myself high maintenance. I was the girl in college who was never without a full face of makeup, and who was known to slink around the sorority house late at night covered in body mud. And my beauty routines only grew more elaborate as I got older. I started getting regular manicures, pedicures, facials and bikini waxes. I made regular pilgrimages to department stores, and later, Sephora, to stock up on the latest products. I spent tons of time poking at my face in the mirror, while smoothing on assorted lotions and serums.

But that was all LBL (Life Before Lola). Now that I have a VERY active 14 month old and another baby on the way, I've found that my list of essentials keeps getting smaller. Somedays, it disappears entirely. Today was one of those days. I didn't wash my face this morning, or use any skincare product except for my sunscreen. I didn't use my pregnancy stretch mark oils or body lotions or bust gel or hand cream or foot cream or eye cream. I didn't use much of anything. I didn't even shower. I did manage to make it upstairs at some point in the early afternoon to apply some deodorant, but that's as far as I got.

Why? Well the Cherub was more tired, and therefore more demanding, than usual, and I was more exhausted than usual.

Somewhere in between, there's a healthy middle ground between narcissism and neglect, and most days I manage to find it. I squeeze in a shower, slather on some body lotion, take care of my skin, do my hair (however quickly) and even sneak in a little makeup. But even for a beauty addict like myself, there are days when just making it from morning to night is an accomplishment. On these days, it's nice to be able to pare down to the bare necessities and take it easy on yourself. Because sometimes, going easy on yoursels is the greatest beauty secret of all.

The Cutting Edge

I've been thinking a lot about haircuts lately. First of all, there was my own haircut. I finally took the plunge and had about 6 inches chopped off on June 23. (I can remember the date of my haircut, but I can't remember my own name these days. That's what pregnancy does to your brain!). See my updated picture at the right side of the screen. (Yes, I know it's squashed. No, I don't know why. I'm working on it.) I've never felt better. It's easier to care for, less frizz-prone, more flattering and more sophisticated. I should have done it eons ago.
Exactly a week after my haircut, my sister had hers chopped off. It's now only slightly longer than mine. (What a copycat, you may be thinking, but you'd be wrong. She'd scheduled it a long time ago!) Then she booked a haircut for her four year old daughter, Isabella. Isabella has the most jaw-dropping hair I've ever seen on a child. It is long and thick and curly and shiny and just amazing. People stop her just to stare. Her first cut took her lovely locks from waist length to just a bit shorter, and more even all around. Gorgeous.
Now, my mom is after me to cut Lola's hair. Lola does not have long, thick, curly hair. She is only 14 months old, and while she has a lot of hair by most 1-year-old standards (she was born with a full head), in my family, she may as well be bald. Her hair is fine and silky smooth and a couple of inches long. In the front, when it's not held back with a little barrette, Her bangs hang down to her mouth. And the color, which was nearly black at birth, is getting fairer every day, which has earned my very brunette baby the nickname, in my raven-haired family, of "Blondie." Anyway, my mother things I should trim her hair in the back to make it a little more even and give her face-framing, side-swept bangs. But I'm scared stiff!!!! I've heard horror stories of moms who cut their babies' hair and regretted it forever. And bangs take so long to grow out! If I did decide to cut it, I would wait until our upcoming trip to Chicago in August and go to one of those special baby haircutting places where they can sit in a toy convertible while their hair gets done.
Got any experiences with cutting a baby's hair? Opinions? I'd love to hear them. I'll be posting a picture of Lola soon, and I'd love to hear what you think!

To Hug, or Not to Hug?

Yesterday I made a split-second decision that could have tarnished my image and hurt my reputation. I let Lola hug me.
It was dinnertime, and I was feeding Lola pasta with meat sauce. She was also "feeding" herself, as well as the high chair, the floor, and occasionally, the dog, Hugs. Anyway, dinnertime was to be followed by bathtime and bedtime, and then I would be going out for a rare night with the girls, a sendoff for my dear friend Ana-Lisa (who has just arrived in Atlanta and is probably already breaking hearts!!!). Anyway, I wanted to look cute for dinner with the girls, so I had washed my hair that morning, during Lola's nap. But since then, Lola had consumed her first peanut butter and jelly sandwich and organic cherry oatmeal cookies. And now it was dinnertime.
There was my beautiful baby, her hands and chubby little face covered in red sauce, reaching out for a hug. (Hugging over the high chair tray has been a recent, and especially adorable, habit of hers.) Her grubby little hands and tomato-red smile were completely irresistable to me, and I immediately caved in. Saucy hands patted the top of my freshly washed head, and I loved every minute of it. Later, surveying myself in the mirror as I picked tomato sauce out of my hair (there was no time for another shower), I spotted, hanging a couple of inches below my left ear, a rather unusual accessory: a small piece of peanut butter and jelly sandwich hung from my hair, and had apparently been there since lunchtime, undetected.
This is my life. In order to make myself presentable to go out to dinner with my girlfriends, I have to peel off grubby clothes and pick food particles out of my hair. Amazingly, at dinner less than an hour later, I realized I'd never felt more glamourous. : )

Deadly Bikini Wax?

A few days ago I blogged about the benefits of the bikini wax, particularly the kind I prefer, which involves taking it all off. And while I stand behind my opinion that barer is better, it's not for everyone. In today's news, a woman from Melbourne, Australia nearly died after recieving a routine Brazilian. It turns out that the woman had Type I diabetes, which she was not taking care of properly, and which compromised her immune system. She contracted a type of deadly bacterian during the waxing, which led to an awful infection and ten days in the hospital. Apparently, she was so swollen and infected that doctors had a hard time examining her. Fortunately, she was treated and eventually released, and was doing fine.
But now here's the twist. Six months later she was admitted into the hospital again, with a similar infection, this one the result of trying to shave her bikini area. Again, her infection was life-threatening, but doctors managed to treat her and release her. But not before learning that she is still determined to have a hair-free bikini area.
You have to admire that kind of single-mindedness, but in this case, it's just plain lunacy. Doctors warn that anyone with a compromised immune system, such as people suffering from diabetes or HIV, should be wary of any invasive beauty procedures, including waxing. A word to the wise: If in doubt, check with your doctor. And ALWAYS make sure you go to a reputable establishment with proper hygiene practices. Do they change the paper that you lie on between clients? Do they use clean fresh wax? Does the aesthetician wash her hands or wear gloves? When in doubt, run!
On a lighter note, while waxing isn't be considered life-threatening for pregnant women, it certainly feels almost deadly. Your skin is so much more sensitive during pregnancy, that a procedure that used to feel simply painful becomes nearly intolerable. I just purchased a tube of a product called No-Scream Cream. You are supposed to apply it to the area to be waxed 30-45 minutes before the waxing, but I didn't read the instructions last time and applied some immediately before. It did nothing, so I have to try it again and do it right. I'll let you know.
Besides the pain, another strange side effect of waxing during pregnancy is an increased chance of irritation and those annoying little red bumps. A couple of months ago, I had my thighs waxed at my monthly bikini-wax appointment. For a couple of days, I was thrilled, as my legs felt way smoother and silkier than shaving could ever get them. But then one morning I woke up with tons of little red bumps on my upper, outer thighs. They took weeks to disappear, and I still have some signs of them. My esthetician explained that since your skin is much more sensitive during pregnancy, so you are more likely to have unusual side effects. Fortunately, this hasn't happened to my bikini area, since I consider waxing that region to be a necessity!

Grown-Up Beauty is Back

I have to confess. There's a part of me that's secretly missed the 80s. It's not the shoulder pads or the big hair that I miss. It's the makeup. And while I would never go back to the thick foundation and even thicker eyebrows I sported back then, I am thrilled that fashion is finding its way back to a more grown-up aesthetic. It was all over the runways for fall: glamorous hair, sultry red lips, deep wine-colored nails. Makeup is "done", finally, with no apologies. Looking unstudied and unkempt is now considered uncool, and I love it. We are being given a chance to once again embrace elegance and femininity, on our own terms. These new looks don't reference the past. They bring them firmly into the present. Deep russet-red lips are left unlined, but neatly finished, and the rest of the face is left fresh and unpowdered. Dramatic, liquid-lined eyes grace an otherwise neutral look. Hair is worn in Veronica-Lake-style waves, but softer and more contemporary. When I was a little girl dreaming of being a glamorous, grown-up woman, this is the way I want to look.

The Best Pressed Powders Ever

This category covers the very best pressed face powders available, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity

The Beauty Insider's Picks
1. Hard Candy O-blot-erate: Don’t be put off by the pale blue tint. This translucent powder is neutral on every skin tone, and it instantly obliterates shininess without feeling heavy. Packaged in a sleek silver compact, it comes with an adorable heart-shaped sponge. $16
2. Amazing Cosmetics Powder Set: This colorless, lightweight powder in a silvery compact absorbs oil, of course, but it also sets and even waterproofs your makeup. $17
3. Body & Soul Cosmetics Perfect Face Powder (“Brunette”): The company’s signature retro packaging shows up in this adorable, flaunty-worthy compact. Inside, you’ll find an oil-free, translucent powder that wipes out greasy skin. $32
4. Lola Pressed Powder (“Toast”): I can’t resist the metallic red compact and the fluffy pink puff, but it’s the supersilky, translucent powder that makes this a favorite. $27.50
5. Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder (“Translucent 2”): The signature black compact is unbeatably elegant, as is the supersheer powder with light-reflecting pigments. $42
6. Estee Lauder Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder (“Transparent”): Estee Lauder offers many elegant options for compacts, including some limited editions, making your choice as personal as your style. I love the luxe golden alligator compact, filled with oil-absorbing, light diffusing Lucidity powder. Plus, the $9.50, refills are as easy on your budget as they are on the environment. $32
7. T. LeClerc Pressed Powder (“Translucide”): I love the vintage feel of the embossed, matte silver compact, and the silky, weightless powder it contains. $45
8. By Terry Perfecting Glow Compact Powder in Refillable Jewel Case (“Radiant Apricot”): This weighty, silvery compact is stylish and substantial—a real luxury. Inside, a supremely silky powder that doubles as a sheer natural foundation. The exclusive “triple-correcting pigment” and creamy texture creates skin that is matte yet radiant. Compact: $174 (approx.); powder: $43 (approx.)
9. Chantecaille Compact Powder Foundation (“Cashew”): This galvanized nickel compact is gorgeous and sophisticated, and the powder foundation keeps skin hydrated while fighting shine. $49
10. Versace Invisible Pressed Powder (“V2004”): The powder may be invisible, but the compact certainly isn’t. This decadent, glamorous golden compact with the company’s signature Medusa emblem virtually screams: “Look at me.” Fortunately, it makes shiny skin a bit less conspicuous. The talc-free, fragrance-free formula moisturizes, mattifies, and leaves skin luminous. $38

The Popular Vote
1. MAC Blot Powder in “Medium”, $17
2. MAC Studio Fix in “C3” and “C4” (tie), $23.50
3. MAC Studio Finish Powder/Pressed in “NC20”, $18.50
4. NYC New York Color Pressed Powder in “Translucent”, $1.99
5. MAC Select Sheer/Pressed in “NC20”, $19.50
6. Becca Compact Pressed Powder in “Sesame”, $38
7. Lancome Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup, $33
8. Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder, $42
9. Benefit Get Even, $26
10. Lancome Photogenic Sheer Pressed Powder, $27

Why Bare is Better

Growing up in a Middle Eastern family, there were a few things that were drummed into me at an early age:
1. Jewelry is important. Very important. Leaving the house without earrings is as unthinkable as leaving the house without pants. My ears were pierced in the hospital when I was born, and I've never looked back. And my baby Lola had her ears pierced at 6 months.
2. Black is for funerals and for widows. (This mantra never caught on with me, as I love black. But I also love color).
3. You have to suffer to be beautiful.
4. Suffering = waxing. My mom first waxed my legs when I was about 12 years old. I remember running around the neighborhood, showing my girlfriends. I was so excited.
In Middle Eastern countries, waxing is a rite of passage and as de rigeur as facials in Eastern Europe. Traditionally, before their weddings, brides would have their entire bodies waxed. Their entire bodies. The only place where hair was allowed to remain was above the neck. Everything from the neck down was ripped out using "halawa", which is what we Americans would call sugaring.
Forget the Brazilian. Middle Eastern women routinely sign up for what I call the Cleo. No hair down there. Period. That's why I wasn't too surprised when, shortly after college, I found myself in a Cuban-owned waxing salon in South Beach, being asked whether I wanted it off. All off.
I went for it, and I've never looked back. Bare is better in so many ways. It's cleaner. It's sexier. It's more feminine. And gentlemen prefer it. Just ask my husband. Better yet, ask your own, if you have one.
No matter how old you are, or how conservative, or what your ethnic background, I urge you to try the Cleo. You'll feel fresh, new, vixen-ish. It might just change your life.

The Trouble with Bare Escentuals

I have only started to dabble in the world of mineral makeup in the last year or so, which is kind of late to the game, especially for a beauty junke. My first foray into mineral makeup was to by the Bare Escentuals starter kit, with the two shades of mineral foundation, the Mineral Veil, and Warmth.
Like everyone who is lured by the promise of mineral makeup, I was intrigued by the idea of makeup that was easy to apply, that looked natural and glowing instead of made-up, that was good for my skin and offered sun protection. And even though I wear a foundation regularly, I don't particularly enjoy applying it (who does?). I loved the idea of quickly dusting on some powder and walking out the door with the same coverage I was used to. But I quickly discovered some pitfalls:
1. It is hard to find the right shade. I found Medium Tan to be a bit too orange, and Tan is too dark.
2. For a makeup that you are supposed to apply in several very sheer layers, to build up coverage, it is nearly impossible to get a very small amount of color onto the kabuki brush. The way the powder dispenses into the cap, a lot comes out at once, and a lot gets onto the brush. When too much is applied at once, the result is dark and obvious makeup that doesn't blend easily or well. It kind of sets immediately and is hard to work with. This is my biggest complaint wtih mineral makeup. In theory, it should look more natural, but in practice this is hard to achieve.
3. It is messy. I've tried applying it on the go, in the car, etc. and it has always created a mess. It's not very portable.
4. It's hard to get a uniform look on the face, and harder still to cover and conceal specific areas. Maybe it is going to take a bit more practice, but I was hoping this would simplify my life, not complicate it!

So there. That's my take on Bare Escentuals, so far. For those of you looking to try mineral makeup, it's important to know both sides of the story. It can have some benefits, but it is not without its pitfalls!

Post-Baby Plastic Surgery

I have nothing against plastic surgery, as a rule. If you have realistic expectations, and do it for the right reasons (to fix one physical thing that is bothering you, not fix your life or boost your self esteem), then it can be a great tool to make you feel more beautiful. So I have no problem with the concept of post-baby plastic surgery to help erase some of the toll that pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing can have on your body.

During my last pregnancy, my breasts were, to put it mildly, huge. I was thrilled. I've always been a decent small C, but now they were full D cups, and I loved it. This lasted through nursing, but when the nursing stopped, so did the cleavage. Suddenly, my beloved new breasts were gone, and they were replaced by much smaller B cups. Worse, they weren't as, ahem, perky as they were before.

A friend of mine recently had twins. Her husband told her, before she gave birth, that if she felt the need for a tummy tuck, he would spring for it. She didn't. Instead, she wants to have her breasts done.

Now that I'm pregnant again, I am once again happy with the shape and size of my breasts, but if they disappear again (which, let's face it, they will), I am prepared to take the plunge and get a lift and, if necessary, an augmentation.

I have never wanted fake breasts before. I never saw the need to put something foreign into my body. That was before I had a baby. Now, I will do whatever it takes to feel good about the way I look. I'll get a tummy tuck too, if I see the need for that too.

Thank God for modern medicine. Not too long ago, women had to live with the ravages that time and motherhood had on their bodies. Now, we have a choice!

Product Review: Bourjois Lovely Rouge Satin Lipstick

I LOVE these lipsticks. First of all, I like the packaging. It reminds me vauely of the Nina Ricci makeup that was out about ten years ago, and which is no longer being made. It's very girly with cases in pinks and corals accented with gold. And like Nina Ricci, the lipsticks smell like roses, but not overly so. Just light and pretty. My favorite Bourjois lipstick is the Lovely Rouge Satin. I love the creamy texture and satin finish. It has great wear, and the colors are beautiful. It's really just a fun lipstick to use. Another plus: It doesn't go rancid as quickly as other lipsticks tend to do. I've had one shade for four years now and it hasn't changed in any way. Love that! All the colors are lovely, but my favorites are Rose Complice, Rouge Best and Beige Intime.

You can get Bourjois Lovely Rouge Satin Lipstick for $14 at Sephora.

The Best Loose Face Powders Ever

This category covers the very best loose face powders available, regardless of price. Feel free to weigh in on your favorites. This list is actually comprised of two separate lists:
1) The Beauty Insider's Picks: My own personal list of the best products in that category, in no particular order
2) The Popular Vote: The results of a poll I did of over 1000 beauty-savvy consumers, in order of popularity

The Beauty Insider's Picks
1. Anna Sui Face Powder (“#700”): The glamorous, gold box and plush purple puff have an air of vintage glamour, and the rose-scented powder delivers subtle radiance without shine. $33
2. Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder (“Mocha”): This may be the best powder on the market. It’s so fine and lightly-pigmented that it barely floats on the surface of your skin, letting your natural beauty show through while keeping makeup in check all day long. $38
3. Body & Soul Loose Face Powder (“No. 3”): The cool, retro shaker tin is spillproof and portable, and the powder is lightweight and oil-free. The perfect pick for travel. $30
4. Prescriptives Magic Liquid Powder (“Translucent”): A powder that’s refreshing? Believe it or not, yes. Liquid Powder is the perfect name for this astonishing product—the effect is cool, misty, invigorating. Miraculously, it doesn’t disturb your makeup, but sets it invisibly. You’re left with a gorgeous glow. $35
5. MAC Select Sheer/Loose (“NC30”): Super-silky and weightless, this finely-textured powder makes skin matte but never cakey—allowing your own skin to show through. Plus, the range of colors ensures a perfect match. $19.50
6. Skin Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish Invisible Face Powder: One shade does fit all, especially when it’s invisible. This lightweight, finely-milled powder is completely clear. It never looks ashy, streaky, or orangey, and it never settles into fine lines. $27.50
7. T. LeClerc Loose Facial Powder (“Translucide” and “Abricot”): This ultra-fine, skin-brightening powder comes in countless shades from basic to “corrective.” Whichever you choose, it floats on to create a softly natural, shine-free complexion. The only caveat: the jar, while gorgeous and vintage-y, is impossible to open without making a mess. $45
8. Avon Translucent Loose Powder (“Translucent”): This silky, smooth powder gives skin a satiny, glowing finish, and the price is unbeatable. $9
9. bareEscentuals bareMinerals Mineral Veil: The soft, light texture and dry finish make this a perfect pick for shine-prone skin. $19
10. L’Oreal Visible Lift Line Minimizing Powder (“Medium”): This silky powder is ultra-sheer, so it sets makeup without ever drawing attention to itself. $11.99 (approx.)

The Popular Vote
1. Laura Mercier Loose Powder in “Translucent”, $30
2. Becca Fine Loose Finishing Powder in “Sesame”, $38
3. Bare Escentuals i.d. Mineral Veil, $20
4. NYC New York Color Loose Powder in “Translucent”, $2.99
5. Sonia Kashuk Barely There Loose Powder in “Naked”, $10 (approx.)
6. T. LeClerc Loose Facial Powder in “Banane”, $45
7. Clinique Blended Face Powder in “Transparency Neutral”, $17.50
8. Bobbi Brown Original Formula Loose Powder in “Pale Yellow”, $30
9. MAC Select Sheer/Loose, $19.50
10. Prescriptives Magic Liquid Powder in “Translucent”, $35