Fellow beauty chicks, I'm thrilled to introduce a very special member to The Beauty of Life team. Please welcome the utterly fabulous Jennifer Lee to the forum! Jennifer is the new intern on board -- she'll be writing product reviews, trying out tons of products and generally loving beauty as much as everyone else around here. (And is she not the most adorable person ever?) Discover some of her favorite products, how she came to love beauty so much and more after the jump!
How did you first become interested in beauty?
I grew up in a pretty conservative family and wasn’t really allowed to use makeup until college. Can you imagine the repressed psychosis? As a tween, I would go to bookstores and camp out in the magazine section, memorizing looks. When I got to high school, I would ravenously go through my friend Marian’s makeup. And now, I am a full-fledged [makeup] junkie. You know the heart-quickening anticipation you get right before Space Mountain? That’s literally the feeling I have when I’m in the beauty aisle.
What is your daily beauty and skincare regimen?
My everyday look consists of just mascara and blush. At night, I’m pretty strict with nightly skincare; I always use eye cream and face lotion. Also, I’m in love with L’Occitane Olive Oil Toner -- it naturally moisturizes and exfoliates.
What are your top five favorite products?
1) Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I have stick-straight lashes and this opens up my eyes beautifully.
2) Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. This melts away makeup, including liquid eyeliner and waterproof mascara, without tugging at the sensitive eye area.
3) Kiehl's Hair Conditioner and Grooming Aid Formula 133. I discovered this product in Miami’s humid summer and been in love with it ever since. It’s the perfect non-greasy detangler.
4) M.A.C eye color. The pigments are so rich and gorgeous!
5) NARS blush. Compliments every skin tone and is silky smooth.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what's the one product you couldn't live without?
Can I have two things? I’m addicted to lip balm and I totally need sunscreen. I’m a huge sunscreen advocate. I put on SPF20+ everyday -- even in the winter!
When you're not writing for The Beauty of Life, what do you do for fun?
I’m a gigantic foodie! I LOVE to eat, cook and drink wine. The Food Network is my background channel of choice and I love reading cookbooks (as in, I’ll curl up in bed with a cookbook before I go to sleep). My friend Hubert calls me The Beast because of my copious food consumption, and my boss at my last job actually asked if I was diabetic (apparently they’re always eating to maintain sugar levels).
Friday, July 31, 2009
Introducing The Beauty of Life's New Intern, Jennifer Lee!
Love at First Sight: by Terry Baume de Rose Lip Balm
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate With Essential Oils
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
So you know how there are some products that just get you from the very moment you open the packaging? That's how it was for me when I took my Clarins Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate With Essential Oils out of the box.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass: A Thing of Beauty
Just a quick note about the beautiful thing that is M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass. I mean, have you even? I can't pick a favorite because the three swirled colors that make up each tube are too gorgeous ... I ran out and bought every single one just so I could line them up on my dressing table and stare at them every day. (And yes, I'm completely serious.) But if you must pick a favorite, here are your choices:
Tasty (sheer raspberry pink)
Just Dessert (sheer frosted silver pink)
Simply Delicious (sheer frosted peach)
Triple Yum (sheer golden beige)
Good luck choosing! Each M.A.C Tricolour Lipglass retails for $17.50.
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer Bath & Shower
Is there anything chicer than Molton Brown? I find it hard to believe. There's something so unbelievably luxe about every single Molton Brown product out there. And right now I'm totally loving the Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer Bath & Shower.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Feel the Vibrations: Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Mascara Primer
Vibrations good like Sunkist
Many wanna know who done this
Marky Mark and I'm here to move you
Rhymes will groove you
And I'm here to prove to you
That we can party on the positive side
And pump positive vibes
So come along for the ride
Making you feel the rhythm is my occupation
So feel the vibration
Come on come on
Feel it feel it
Feel the vibration
--Good Vibrations
When I first started trying vibrating mascaras last year, I didn't know quite what to expect. But after loving them all (check out my review of Lancome Oscillation here), is it any wonder that the new Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Mascara Primer would make me feel the same way?
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Laura Mercier French Vanilla Creme Body Wash
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
Oh, Laura Mercier. I honestly don't think it's possible for you to bring me a product I won't like. But in the case of your French Vanilla Creme Body Wash, I think I've just fallen head over heels in love. The rich scent of baked goods wafts out of the bottle every time I so much as pop the cap ... enveloping me in a delightful, delicious, utterly delectable world that I just can't bear to leave.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lip Service: Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm
I honestly don't think I could ever be without a lip balm. On the rare occasion that I've walked out of the house without at least three stashed in my purse, I've felt myself going into panic mode. And the times that -- horror of horrors! -- I forget one altogether? You might as well consider the entire day a waste. But now that Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm has come into my life, there's absolutely no way I would ever forget to have a lip balm at the ready.
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Milky Shower Cream
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
As anyone who knows me can attest, I'm a sucker for cool packaging. And Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Milky Shower Cream has got that in spades. The super-thin, rectangular-shaped bottle would look utterly minimalist if not for the oversized red poppy blooming across its front.
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox: My Secret to Perfect Skin
I've discovered the secret to radiant skin. It's not facials (though they help), it's not slathering on a bunch of different night creams and day creams (though I still will). No, it's the Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox.
This beautifully packaged box is packed with a three-step process that results in skin that glows, gleams and otherwise glistens. Seriously, after only one application I already noticed a vast difference in how youthful my skin appeared -- and, as if that weren't enough, was asked my age (as in, "you look so young! How old are you?") so many times I lost count. If that isn't the highest compliment a woman can receive, what is?
You start with the Dazzling Eyes Ritual. This includes Eye Contour Serum and Under-Eye Patches. Begin by squeezing a dab of the serum onto the skin below your eyes, then add the patches -- saturated gauzy-like white contraptions -- and keep them in place for seven minutes. While they're sinking into your skin, mix up the Shimmering Mask -- the combination of a powder and a creamy emulsion -- that, after removing the patches, you'll rub into your skin and leave for five minutes. After a quick rinse, finish with the Evanescent Cream -- a rich daily moisturizer that sinks into your skin without feeling greasy, thick or heavy.
The result? Unbelievably clear skin that's so glowing, so radiant, you'll be shocked at how quickly it could be achieved. Now, what's in each product that gives you that result? The serum includes vegeceryl (a plasma that nourishes the skin), in addition to sugars and plant extracts to decongest and detoxify the skin. Combined with the patches, your eyes give off the appearance of a full eight hours sleep even if you've only had four -- and trust me, I tried the theory and was shocked at how rested I appeared! No dark circles, no wrinkles, no unsightly lines to be had. It was truly a miracle.
The mask contains cicer arietinum grain extract to stimulate creatine kinerase. This is responsible for producing energy from phosphocreatine to exfoliate the skin and remove it of dead skin cells. The concoction is slightly foamy but sinks into the skin like a moisturizer -- so none of that horrible hardness or tightness you get from some masks. It works to nourish and hydrate the skin so it gives off a lively, revitalized appearance.
Finally, the moisturizer oxygenates the tissues, erases fine lines and plumps up the skin. It contains white lupine grain extract to promote microcirculation, cicer arietinum grain extract to revitalize the skin, and 3D Flash, Orlane's innovative complex that transports oxygen within the cells and recovers C02. You'll be left with illuminated, shimmering, silky smooth skin in just seconds!
Each Lightbox comes with six full sets of applications. And while this may not seem like a lot, you can actually stretch it out over quite an extended period of time. Rather than using them six days in a row, you can use one a week -- that's a month and a half of glow time!
The Orlane Paris Absolute Radiance Lightbox retails for $200.
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Vert Bath and Shower Gel
I absolutely love Bulgari. And while I can't necessarily treat myself to the gorgeous jewels the house has to offer, I certainly can splurge on their beauty products from time to time. So it's no wonder that the second I picked up Bulgari Eau Parfumée Au Thé Vert Bath and Shower Gel, I was hooked.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Best Summer Body Wash Series: NARS Ginger Grapefruit Bath and Shower Gel
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
Since I'm a major fan of all things NARS, I simply had to try the NARS Ginger Grapefruit Bath and Shower Gel. You may think that the photo above doesn't really look real -- how could these huge bubbles really exist in the bottle all the time? Well, I'm here to tell you that the bottle really and truly looks like that as it sits in your shower! So right off the bat, I fell in love with the packaging. It's totally one of those bottles that get comments when I have guests (which, admittedly, is something I really enjoy about my bath products).
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash
Some products are just named so aptly, I want to shake the hand of the person who did it. Such is the case with Clinique Happy Heart Body Wash -- and the entire Clinique Happy Heart collection, come to think of it. Because every time I lather up with this aromatic fantasy of a body wash, a huge smile appears on my face and I just feel utterly blissful.
The Amazingness Continues with Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist
I told you once how much I love Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist. Well, I just feel that this little bottle needs a bit more love ... because OH. MY. GOD. I've been having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep for over a month now. Last night I decided to spritz it over my pillow, and guess what? I fell asleep within FIVE MINUTES. Even better, I stayed asleep till my alarm rang this morning. I can't believe it.
Okay, gushing done now. Just thought I'd let you know that this baby continues to work time and again.
Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Sleep Mist retails for $38.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My New Hair Miracle-Workers: Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner
It's very clear
Our love is here to stay
Not for a year
But ever and a day
--George and Ira Gershwin
Every time I try out a new shampoo, I feel wary. No matter how great they sound, the run the risk of giving me a truly terrible hair day. Not so with the new Kiehl's Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo and Color Preserving Conditioner. No, these two miracle-workers have done everything right since they came into my life.
Best Summer Body Wash Series: M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
I love all things honey. One of my favorite things about the Jewish holidays is that it's totally acceptable to eat buckets of honey (dipping apples in honey signifies that you wish people a sweet new year). And one of my favorite books, The Secret Life of Bees, centers around the sweet stuff. So is it any wonder that I'm totally dying over the new M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash?
I was enamored from the very beginning ... because while the tube may seem ordinary at first glance, it so isn't. Look closer and you'll notice that it's designed to look like a honeycomb -- and, of course, it's the color of deep amber honey. But it's what's inside the tube that really gets me going ... because this body wash is actually formulated from real bio-converted honey!
And the scent, ohhhh, the scent. Extracts of lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower waxes and blue agave not only help to cleanse, moisturize and nourish the skin. No, they actually make this body wash smell unbelievably amazing. It's sweet but not cloying, lush but not too rich. Every time I lather up, it somehow overpowers and envelops me without seeming too heavy. Now that's something worth smiling about.
Formulated from bio-converted honey, this body wash cleanses the skin while providing the soothing and moisturizing benefits of lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower waxes and blue agave extracts. Provides a sensual, calming, cleansing experience. Limited edition.
M.A.C Naked Honey Body Wash is limited-edition and retails for $19.50. For more information on the Naked Honey collection, click here.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Best Summer Body Wash Series: DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
I'm all about scents with a little bit of intrigue. That's why I'm totally enthralled with DKNY Be Delicious Shower Gel. Its unique blend of fruity, floral and woodsy notes really resonates with me and just makes me feel amazing all day long.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Quote of the Day: Elizabeth Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion
Totally my favorite quote thus far!
"It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at 29 than she was 10 years before." -- Elizabeth Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Body Wash
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
I've long been a fan of Aromatherapy Associates. I haven't found another brand so adept at creating products that make me feel like I've been transported to the most luxurious spa on the planet. So of course I need to include a body wash from the line in this series ... and there isn't one finer than Renew Rose Body Wash.
This delightfully fragrant body wash is formulated with chamomile to soften the skin, while rose and sandalwood oils keep it hydrated. Damask rose water nourishes the skin and leaves it soft and glowing. It even has aloe vera juice to keep skin feeling soothed!
But it's the scent that really keeps me coming back for more. It's unbelievably fragrant and heady but not at all cloying. The scent fills up the bathroom each time I use it, but never gives me a headache or sinks into the skin so heavily that I feel claustrophobic throughout the day. It has such an accurate rose aroma that you'd swear you had just planted a rosebush in your vanity!
And even better, it can double as a bubble bath! Just a few capfuls and your bathtub will be overflowing with beautifully scented bubbles.
Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Body Wash retails for $42 at aromatherapyassociates.com.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Beauty Launch: M.A.C Nail Trend FW 09 by Jin Soon
Exciting news, fellow beauty chicks! Manicurist extraordinaire Jin Soon is launching an exclusive collection with M.A.C this August. Titled Nail Trend FW 09, the collection includes six nail polishes that are inspired by the Fall 2009 collections and upcoming fashion trends. I had the fortune to sit down with Jin backstage at the Doo.Ri Fall 2009 show, where she divulged her inspiration for the collection and showed me one of the colors used on the models at the show, Beyond Jealous.
"This one looks good on every skin tone," Jin told me. "Lots of people go for very daring edge ... that will be more trendy. People didn’t want to get this kind of color before, but now more and more people are into that editorial look."
Jin added, "The designer chose the green. Her line is very strong and tough statement, yet very chic. So she wants to show that. And this color is perfect for her line."
When I asked Jin how she came up with the colors for the collection, she told me, "We checked all the trend forecasts, all the books and everything. Also my favorites that I was into. So we combined ideas. I had been doing all the editorial work, I know what’s gonna be popular, what’s gonna be out there. Also a lot of fashion shoots. So I get all the ideas from shows."
Each of the six polishes is a creme -- no shimmer at all. The colors include:
Cool Reserve (dirty grey lavender)
For Fun (rich clean purple)
Dance All Night (brick red)
Dry Martini (khaki olive green)
Rich, Dark, Delicious (rich blackened brown)
Beyond Jealous (blackened blue green)
The nail polishes in the M.A.C Nail Trend FW 09 by Jin Soon Collection retail for $12 each. They will be available on August 27 at M.A.C counters nationwide.
Beautiful Belles: Penelope Tree
A series focusing on beautiful women throughout history with important contributions to the arts and entertainment industry and charity -- and a fabulous sense of beauty, inside and out!
If anyone could be responsible for inspiring the Swinging 60s movement, it would be model Penelope Tree. The wide-eyed gorgeous beauty, along with fellow model Twiggy, epitomizes what the era was all about. I'm totally in love with the mod era, and after seeing The Model As Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art recently, felt it only fitting to bring you an edition of Beautiful Belles with the lovely Penelope Tree. Discover more -- and see scads of photos -- after the jump.
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Miller Harris Fleur Oriental Shower Wash
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
I'm not really a fan of oriental fragrances normally. They always feel a bit too heavy for my liking. But Miller Harris Fleur Oriental Shower Wash totally makes me rethink my opinion, because I've got to be honest ... it smells amazing.
Flowers, plants and roots, ripe fruits, wild herbs and the trace of pollen on the wind lend inspiration to the heady fragrance that emanates from this shower gel. It's rich, unyieldingly fragrant and so lush, there's no need for perfume after you finish lathering up. (And quite a lather it creates, too.)
Best of all, it contains many ingredients that work overtime to leave your skin looking and feeling its best. Olive oil nourishes, chamomile oil calms and coconut encourages a foamy lather. And can we talk for a moment about how gorgeous the bottle is? A unique floral design wends its way across the bottle, lending an unbelievably luxe feel to your shower caddy that you won't find anywhere else.
Miller Harris Fleur Oriental Shower Wash retails for $50.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Best Summer Body Wash Series: Prescriptives Calyx Exhilarating Shower Gel
The Best Summer Body Wash Series features the body washes and shower gels that will thrill and delight you all summer long.
Sometimes a name really describes a product so accurately, you feel it must be aligned with the gods. Such is the case with Prescriptives Calyx Exhilarating Shower Gel. This has become one of my favorite body washes for summer because of its unbelievably light, refreshing and zesty aroma. It's a fabulous pick-me-up in the morning when all I'd rather do is stay under the covers and sleep an extra few hours. It's also perfect after an intense workout!
Gorgeous Product Alert: M.A.C Naked Honey High-Light Powder in Honey Light
Well, M.A.C has done it again. They've created a product so beautiful I can't bring myself to actually use it. I think you'll agree that M.A.C Naked Honey High-Light Powder in Honey Light is undeniably beautiful.
This limited-edition powder was created specially for the Naked Honey collection -- which, you guessed it, has a honey theme! And I'm totally loving the pattern of this powder, which looks like an embossed honeycomb. Don't you think bees would just love to get their stingers on this?
If I can ever actually force myself to ruin the beautiful pattern, it will give me a lusciously bright glow. Maybe I'll dust it across my forehead and cheekbones and shoulders before brunch tomorrow to embrace the dog days of summer. Or maybe I'll just continue to leave it on my vanity as a beauty-themed paperweight!
Note: This product is no longer available.
Beauty Giveaway: China Glaze Summer Days Collection
It's time for another beauty giveaway here on The Beauty of Life! And this is a great one, fellow beauty chicks ... because I'm giving away the China Glaze Summer Days Collection. This collection of six nail polishes is so unbelievably gorgeous, I honestly can't believe I'm willing to share. But one lucky winner will receive the entire collection, which is valued at $39! The polishes in this collection have a sparkly jelly finish and literally look like liquid jewelry on the nail. The colors include:
Watermelon Rind (deep juicy green)
Grape Juice (dark violet)
Strawberry Fields (luscious deep pink)
Raspberry Festival (crimson-like scarlet)
Cherry Pie (bright orange-red)
Orange Marmalade (vibrant orange)
Entering is easy. Simply enter your name and email address in the box below. The winner will be selected on Friday, July 24 and notified by email. It's that simple!
This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs until Thursday, July 23 at midnight. One entry per person, email address and IP address. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
Friday, July 17, 2009
First Look Fridays: Katie Berwitt of Smartypanties
Are you reading Smartypanties? If not ... trust me, you're missing out! The gorgeous Katie Berwitt is behind its fabulosity, and she strives to bring beauty and fashion lovers all the best deals and info on all the latest and greatest products. Plus she's the nicest person to boot -- and I can say that without question, as she and I grew up together and have known each other for about 15 years! Read on to discover Katie's favorite shampoo, the eyeliner she can't live without, why she started Smartypanties and so much more!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Quote of the Day: Poppy King of Lipstick Queen
Overheard straight from the Lipstick Queen Twitter page today!
"I can't live without my Red Sinner lipstick because it is the fastest way to make me feel ready for the world." -- Poppy King, creator of Lipstick Queen
Lampshades Are The New Hats.
KenzoAmour Florale: A Floral Fantasy
Looking for a heady floral scent that will delight, not overpower, your senses? Then you’d best try KenzoAmour Florale immediately if not sooner.
This fragrance is infused with a uniquely beautiful blend of white blossoms that perfectly capture the feeling of the journey into the light to find love. Top notes of neroli, grapefruit-black currant and essence of cardamom make way for a heart of frangipani blossom, gardenia and rosebud. At the base are notes of white musk and cedar wood. The end result is a gentle yet unbelievably lush fragrance that has quickly become my summer staple.
And can we just talk about the bottle for a second? How unbearably gorgeous is it? Designed by Karim Rashid, the signature silhouette looks milkier than its counterparts as it takes on the feeling of being bathed in sunlight and brushed by white mist. Definitely one for the vanity.
Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.
Gentle Luxuries: Givenchy Mist Me Gently Instant Moisturizing & Relaxing Mist
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Beauty Question: Would You Get Liposuction?
The roomie and I were talking about liposuction last night, and I've gotta admit ... neither of us is really that opposed to it. Once in awhile, it might just help the situation in certain areas, right? But my beauty question for the day is, of course, would you get liposuction? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Prescriptives Motor-Eyes Instant Action Mascara Really Gets My Motor Running!
When it feels right, don't stop the motor
Baby keep it on
Let's work it all night
Don't stop the motor when it's running strong
--Earth Wind & Fire, "Motor"
Curious about motorized mascaras but worried you're going to poke your eyes out? Well, I'm here to let you know they're really not so scary. I've already tried Lancome Oscillation and Estee Lauder Turbolash, so of course I needed to try Prescriptives Motor-Eyes Instant Action Mascara as well. And you know what? I'm going on record and saying this one is my favorite of the bunch!
Estee Lauder's version is a bit too buzzy for me and doesn't really make my lashes look AH-MA-ZING. Lancome's version leaves my lashes so wet that if I don't comb the mascara out, I'll blink it all over my cheeks. But Prescriptives Motor-Eyes? The vibrations are just right, the product is just right, and the final effect is -- you guessed it! -- just right. (I sound like Goldilocks sitting in the Little Bear's chair, don't I?)
This mascara is meant to lengthen, volumize, lift and curl your lashes. It's also meant not to clump, smudge or flake. Well, I'm here to tell you it does all of these things beautifully! Lashes are longer, thicker and fuller in just one coat -- and there's absolutely no clumping or flaking, so there's no need for an eyelash comb! I think this is the perfect daytime mascara -- it adds just enough length to make your lashes noticeable without feeling too evening-esque.
Prescriptives Motor-Eyes Instant Action Mascara retails for $32 at Prescriptives counters nationwide.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Beauty Question: How Do You Cure Bug Bites?
It's finally summer ... which means bug bites are most definitely on the horizon. I seem to have one day every year that I wake up with a whopping 20 mosquito bites all over my body -- somehow, a darned mosquito finds his way into my apartment in the middle of the night and eats me alive! I'm left with bite after bite that itch and swell to baseball size within minutes, even when I don't touch or scratch them. I've tried calamine lotion, oatmeal baths, rubbing alcohol ... every trick in the book, to no avail. So my beauty question is this. How do you cure bug bites? Let me know your remedies in the comments!
Protect Your Lips with Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick
Thursday, July 9, 2009
La Mer The Lip Balm: Just How a Pot of Balm Should Be
Loyal readers will already know that I love me some lip balm. Pot, stick, tube ... it doesn't matter. If it's a balm, chances are I've tried it and loved it. Yes, I have some favorites that stick out among the others. But at the end of the day, give me a good lip balm over a sparkly eyeshadow any day. (Though of course I love sparkly eyeshadow, too.) What am I getting at here? Oh, just that La Mer The Lip Balm is one of the greatest products I've had the pleasure of trying recently, that's all.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Bonnie Wright is Super Grown Up and Glamorous at the Harry Potter Premiere.
What do you think? Are you loving Bonnie's look? Let me know in the comments!
Monday, July 6, 2009
M.A.C Lola Devine is Utterly DIVINE.
Do you ever grab a bottle of nail polish and think, “Well, I’m not sure how this color will look, but let’s see how it turns out?” Such was the case when I picked up my as-yet-untouched bottle of M.A.C Lola Devine recently. I got it awhile back, and I kept looking at it without ever actually picking it up and painting my nails with it. Finally, I decided to give it a try -- really not knowing what to expect. Would it be streaky or clump too much? Would it be too goopy from months of sitting on my vanity untouched?
I am happy to report that it applied like a dream and looks AWESOME. Seriously, I think it’s now one of my favorite colors. The gorgeous peachy coral has just enough pink undertone to make it completely interesting. It glides effortlessly onto the nail with absolutely no streaking or glopping. (Yes, I just made that word up. Don’t you love it?) I’d call it salmon, except I actually hate that name for a color ... so instead, I’ll say it’s a cross between cerise and amaranth with just a touch of rose for good measure.
Ever since I used this stunner, I’ve had a hard time concentrating on anything except my fabulous-looking nails. Now, since this polish was part of the Heatherette collection, it’s unfortunately long gone. But if you’re lucky enough to spot it on ebay, or while you’re sitting in the manicurist’s chair, don’t miss out!
All photos are property of The Beauty of Life.
I Wish I Could Watch Australia's Next Top Model.
While I may have given up hope that America’s Next Top Model will continue to enthrall and enchant me, I am so wishing I had access to Australian TV right now. The 5th cycle of Australia’s Next Top Model is under way, with 13 hopefuls vying for the title. The photo shoot from March 12 saw the girls emulating famous celebrities such as Twiggy and Victoria Beckham in photographs by Paul Westlake. Check out some of the gorgeous shots after the jump!
Tahnee Atkinson as Elizabeth Taylor
Franky Okpara as Grace Jones
Clare Venema as Twiggy
Cassi Ven Den Dungen as Victoria Beckham
Adele Thiel as Greta Garbo
Beauty Question: Do You Change Up Your Look?
Happy Monday, fellow beauty chicks! I thought I'd start off the week with none other than a Beauty Question. So my question of the day is this: do you change up your look? Are you one of those gals who likes to experiment with new colors, brands and formulations, or do you wear the same eyeshadow and lipgloss every day? I fall somewhere in between ... I have my favorites that I keep coming back to, but I love trying out new eyeshadows and lipcolors from time to time. Let me know your beauty look secrets in the comments!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Beauty Launch: M.A.C Colour Craft Collection
Every artist must be daring if she wants to hone her Craft, and post-summer 2009 color was conceived with that kind of creativity in mind. Colour Craft is all about making it your own ... perfection as The Muse intended.
Discover the gorgeous new M.A.C Colour Craft collection -- complete with tons of product photos -- after the jump!
Friday, July 3, 2009
First Look Fridays: Makeup Artist and Stila Global Education Director Sarah Lucero
If you've had the opportunity to meet the fabulous Sarah Lucero, Makeup Artist and Global Education Director for Stila, consider yourself fortunate. This spunky gal turns up at tons of major shows throughout Fashion Week and she's worked with some of the biggest names in the business! Plus she's the nicest person ever ... and of course she's gorgeous! I'm thrilled to bring you this week's edition of First Look Fridays with Sarah Lucero. Read on to discover the Stila product she can't live without, how she spends her days off and the makeup artists who have taught and inspired her.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My New Obsession: Darphin Arovita Eye & Lip Contour Gel
It's rare that I find an eye cream worth mentioning. You may have noticed that I've only done it a handful of times -- with Prescriptives, Estee Lauder, Kiehl's and of course, La Mer. Well, it's time for me to add one more eye cream to the list. Darphin Arovita Eye & Lip Contour Gel.