Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour Orange Fizz

What does buying a Chanel nail polish do to you?
It turns me into a big ol' hot mess. I am alternately cooing my true love to the bottle, and running into the confessional-offering up my guilt at spending $23.00 on nail polish! I did spend two weeks trying to find a cheaper alternative, and thought I had found it at Forever 21 for THREE DOLLARS!!!! Once I compared the two, I knew there was a reason why Chanel can charge that much. It's because they are always right. And when it comes down to the perfect, melting, creamsicle-like Orange Fizz, i'm not going to put up a fight.

Wha????

PRESENTING- just a few of my favorite things lately:
1. Balmain Ambre Gris Perfume- Spicy and smoky, and how I wish cigarettes to smell.
2. Neutrogena lip balm- Not only for Norwegian fisherman, also for twentysomething Portlanders!
3. Trish McEvoy "Beauty to go" refillable pen- You buy it empty and fill with whatever liquid foundation you want. It has a brush on the end for touch ups on the go!
4. Napolean Perdis Lip Couture "Josephine"- Really enjoying the color of this gloss right now, a very pinky peach, it smells divine, and there is a mirror on top of the package (my fav thing eva!).
5. Hugh Jackman as "The Drover" in "Australia"- Perhaps an odd choice, but available for viewing the world over. Never noticed Hugh before, but he sizzles in this role! His bathing in the outback scene almost outdoes Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy in the lake scene from Pride & Prejudice. Squee!

Soles of Summer

I hate to admit the hours I spend watching E! but as a girl with no cable, I have to live with the free channels that I get. And E! is way better than another rerun of the Nanny on Lifetime, or the Bare Minerals infomercial. I will kill someone if I ever have to watch either of those again. Although I am as happy as a clam with the Golden Girls and Magic Bullet informercial, those are Quality Television! Anyhoo, the other day I was watching E! News Weekend, and they had a summer beauty product special. They were going on and on about this new Curel foot cream, and how great it was, and it only costs $5.00! So I was at Ulta the next day and practically tripped over the display stand for the stuff, so I took it as a sign and threw it into my shopping basket. And what do you know, the stuff really really works! I have only used it for 3 nights, and my feet are soft and moisturized, no more dry heels! It sinks in without feeling too greasy (unlike most foot creams, and yes I am talking about Burts Bees Coconut Foot Cream!). But the best part, and believe me, it is pretty freakin' awesome, is that this stuff smells EXACTLY like one of my favorite perfumes: Guerlain L'instant. Any time I can spend $5.00 on something that smells like my $75.00 perfume, I am a happy girl. Now I spend every night floating away to dreamland on a beautiful smelling cloud, and I couldn't be happier!

Cat Eyes for Fall 2007

When all the makeup looks from the fall 2007 runways started pouring in, I was ecstatic as usual, but deep down inside I sighed and felt an attack of the mean reds coming on. All these amazing pictures of beautiful cat eyes and wingtip eyeliner stretching almost as far as the models temples sent me into a tizzy. Not only is eyeliner the most time consuming and in my opinion trickiest thing I ever have to apply, but it usually looks horrible on me and tends to rub off due to my extremely oily eyelids. In the past I have managed to overcome these hurdles by prepping with eye base and using liquid liner, but put me on a dance floor or in a Pacific Northwest fall drizzle and all my preparations just wash down the drain, or rather, my face! Recently though, while sashaying through my local Walgreens, I found the best thing ever: L'oreal Voluminous Eyeliner pen. This really looks like a pen, in size and shape. Even the applicator is shaped like a highlighter, as opposed the thin point found with most liquid liners. Surprisingly easy to use, I think it was the fastest I have ever applied eyeliner. You just take off the cap and draw it on as if you were writing a note with a sharpie, the liquid comes out smoothly and evenly. Best of all, it doesn't smudge or flake at all, even against my extremely squidgy eyes and aforementioned oily eyelids. It comes in black, brown, green, plum, and grey. $5.99 at your better drugstores.

My lip gloss brings all the boys to the yard...

In honor of my new favorite song ever- "Lip Gloss" ,by Lil Mama- I wanted to do a rundown of my favorite lip glosses for this summer season:

1. True Mineral Cosmetics "Glamorous" $19.50. It sure is! This gloss is hands down the most perfect mix of pink, orange, red, and gold I have ever seen. This is the gloss I have spent the last few years trying to mix on my own with no success. Even my somewhat makeup-phobic friend Kari saw me wearing it and was all like "that's the perfect color, I want it" Yay! And it has a delicious minty tingly smell.
2. L'oreal Paris Colour Juice "Candy Apple" $6.99. Li'l Mama gives a shout out to L'oreal Watermelon Crush in her song, but I prefer the Candy Apple. Just a tiny bit more pigment, perfect for hittin' the club this Saturday Eve.
3. Revlon Lip Gloss "Cherries in the Glow" $6.95. Revlon's lip gloss answer to their long-time best selling "Cherries in the Snow" lipstick. I love to first apply a flesh colored lip pencil allover, then apply Cherries gloss. Perfect for any occasion, you can dress it up or play it down.
4. Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss "#1 Simply Gold" $27.00. I was all about layering this over all my lipsticks last winter, but now that the sun is shining, it is the perfect gloss to wear all by itself (especially with the smoky eye look!).
5. Lancome "Starfruit" $24.00. I have used this as a staple for years now, it is the perfect nude gloss for any skin tone, but more in a delicious coraly way than a browny/golden way. Looks great with Mint Julep eye shadow.

"Lip Gloss" by Li'l Mama:

They say my lip gloss is cool
My lip gloss be popping
I'm standing at my locker
And all the boys keep stopping
What you know 'bout me?
What you
What you
What you know 'bout me?
What you know 'bout me?
What you
What you
What you know?
They say my lip gloss is popping
My lip gloss is cool
All the boys keep jocking
They chase me after school

[Verse 1:]
Mac Mac L'oreal yep 'cause I'm worth it
Love the way I put it on so perfect
Wipe the corners of my mouth so I work it
When I walk down the hallway they can't say nothing
Oh oh oh my lips so luscious
The way I spice it up with the Mac Mac brushes
L'oreal got the most watermelon crushes
That's probably the reason all these boys got crushes

[Verse 2:]
When it's time for lunch
My lips still rock
Lil mama melon with the hot pink top
Cherry, vanilla,
Flavors is a virtual they
Loving, lip gloss universal
They boys really like it the girls don’t speak
They rolling they eyes
They lip gloss cheap
It ain't my fought
But I upgrade ya
Show you how to use nice things with nice flavors.

Scholarships to Westmore Academy

Over the last year or so, many people have asked me about where I recieved my makeup training, and several of them have expressed in interest in going there. So I am pleased to announce that my alma mater, The Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts, has finally started a sholarship program! I cannot recommend this school enough, I learned so much and met so many wonderful people. Just check out the website for more information.

Videorama!

My newest passion: doing makeup for music videos! It is so great because it only takes a couple of days to shoot, most people want an edgy look for music videos so I actually get to come up with creative ideas, and you get to hang with awesome bands and party with them afterwards! Really, you can't go wrong.
I got the opportunity to do makeup for the newest Gossip video "Listen Up". We shot most of it in Seattle and a tiny bit of it in my bedroom. That's right, my bedroom. Friends, take notice. You will spy not only my (soon to be) world famous cat Strudel, but also Polly's knitted Otamas, the Blythe doll everyone got me for my birthday, and the super popular dollar store nuns that Lauren brought into my life. I had an amazing time working on this project, and I hope you all have fun watching it! Just click on the title above, it takes a while to load, but be patient, and all your efforts will be rewarded.

Nothing happens by being mute

Isabella Blow 1958-2007

L'oreal Paris Colour Riche Target Red Lipstick

I just had the greatest Sunday last weekend! I had planned for a good day, starting with breakfast with 3 of my most beautiful lady friends (I won't mention names, but if yours has anything to do with a plant, a gem, or a longer version of L-Boogie, you know who you are) followed by a shopping excursion at Tar-jay. While we were ensconced inside the hallowed linoleum halls, L-Boogs mentioned that she needed a new red lipstick, one not too sparkly but with a little shine. Something in that "perfect red" shade, you know the one. "Oh sure, I thought, why don't you just ask me to find the holy grail? Why, it's over on aisle 9, right?". Little did I know that I would find such a miracle. The bright red packaging caught my eye, hidden away on a bottom shelf on one of the end caps. The case itself is gorgeous, bright red and sparkly, inspired by the Target sign itself. It comes with a matching lip pencil. It is $8.99 for both. IT IS LIMITED EDITION. GO BUY IT NOW, DON'T WAIT, YOU WILL REGRET! I myself did not realize the genius until it had been purchased, and applied. It is the perfect red shade! Once again, Target comes to the rescue. Love that place! P.S. Check out the link above, it will take you to a blog all about Target and all the new products there!

My Valentine is Yves Saint Laurent!

I have recently been riveted to the new book "A Beautiful Fall". It tells the story of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, they started out as friends in the 50's, but with their rise to the top of the fashion heap became bitter rivals. There is nothing I love more than a good biography about fashion, I am happy to read about every detail of Helena Rubensteins day to day life, or the most mundane story concerning Charles Revson & Estee Lauder. The book also includes some pretty great pictures of both couteriers, my favorites are the really crazy 70's pics, swimsuits, Marrakech, bad moustaches. You get the picture.
Coincidentally, I recently attended a Yves Saint Laurent makeup and skin care class at my local Nordstroms and had the opportunity to become more familiar with the whole line. I ended up buying way too much (surprise, surprise) but was happy with all of my purchases. First of all, I finally, finally got the Touche Eclat Radiant Touch. I can't believe I waited this long, but my defense is that until recently, I could get away without concealer. I just recently started getting more darkness in the undereye area and also wrinkles have started to appear. So I took the plunge and couldn't be happier! I look much better in pictures and in real life! Definitely worth the $38.50. I also bought the new Touche Blush ($41.00, can you freakin' believe it? I swear, never again!). I love the color so much, it looks way too red in the package, and I would usually only use it on darker skin, but if you just a pinch on my ghost white skin, it looks super great, especially if you put bronzer underneath it. Finally, I purchased the Golden Gloss in #4, a gorgeous bright pink. My favorite look lately has been matte black smoky eye with bright pink lippy. Looks so good on everyone! The golden gloss ($27.00) contains flecks of 14K gold, and is the most sparkly thing I have ever seen. I totes want to get the gold color to layer over all my lipsticks!
For this February, I heartily recommend that everyone banish the winter blahs with Yves Saint Laurent, both in book and product form!