Beauty Blog » 2007 » July

Silly you thought your smile was just fine the way it is. Well, you were wrong! What you need is one of these Beauty Smile Trainers from Japan if you want your happy face to compete with the best of them. Just look at the results for the girl on the package. What an improvement!

Apparently, you put that long orange thing in your mouth and just wait for a wider, more dazzling smile.  And that woman on the top is a cosmetic dentist who believes in the product, which promises to put a stop to facial sagging.

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When I first started wearing makeup, my routine consisted of foundation, loose powder and red lipstick–it was the 90s and I was thirteen, what do you want from me? But as the years went by, I brought in new things (eyeliner anyone?) and just let go of others. For instance, at one point, I nixed the lipstick, choosing instead to play up my eyes, and once the dewy look elicited my affections, liquid bronzer took the place of translucent powder.

But that’s all over now. I mean, I still wear the bronzer, but I’ve reincorporated the translucent loose powder and my makeup is all the better for it. And still pretty dewy.  Considering the way it keeps makeup in place all day (no, seriously!), absorbs oil, and minimizes the appearance of pores, I can’t believe I went without wearing it all these years. I guess I thought that it would give me too much matte texture, but if you apply it with a large powder brush, you can really control it.

My technique is to give my face a light dusting after the bronzer but before blush and eyeliner in order to increase the staying power and true color of both. Because of its moisture eradicating super powers, a quick sweep of powder on the eyelids before you let any liner or shadow near  ‘em will eliminate the smudges and makeup build-up in the creases. Yuck, I hate when that happens.

Another trick is to powder your lips before applying lipstick, which makes lipstick last and last. It’s also a good tool if you’re going for nude lips–just dab a little bit of foundation on your kisser until you get the fleshiness you’re going for and then lightly powder. You’ll be amazed at how long the effect will last.

Top to Bottom: LORAC Face Powder for the Face $28, Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush, $18.50, Shu Uemura New Face Powder, $32

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Let them wear perfume!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist that, and I couldn’t think of a less cliche opening sentence for a Marie Antoinette-related article. Anyway, let’s get on with it:

Today the Palace at Versaille is releasing M.A. Sillage de la Reine, a new fragrance based on the one once worn by the fallen French Queen. This reproduction of the original fragrance formula uncovered by historians will be sold by order only. The price is $463, but a very limited edition of 10 crystal bottles of the fine stuff will sell for about $11,000.

The scent, originally concocted by Marie Antoinette’s perfumer (tangent: don’t you wish you had a perfumer? Then you could say things like, “No, Sally, I can’t meet you for lunch today, my perfumer is coming over” or “Oh, thanks, I’m glad you like it. My perfumer whipped it up for me”) Jean-Louis Fargeon, is said to be very authentic, completely natural and “intensely floral.” It’s primary notes include rose, iris, jasmine, orange blossom and sandalwood.

P.S. If you’re interested in Marie Antoinette’s life, I recommend Antonia Fraser’s fascinating biography. It’s what Sofia Coppola’s film was based on, and it clears up a lot of misconceptions. I read it earlier in the summer and loved it.

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In honor of Evette’s passionate ode to Bonne Belle’s Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, I thought I’d share this old BB ad from the 70s. It was originally featured in Tiger Beat, circa 1979. Does it get any better than that?

The first line of this ad, reads: “Hooray for Lip Smackers! Not only are they the original humongous lip gloss, but they’re the niftiest too.”

Ooh, do they still sell the Good & Plenty flavor?

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I’m in love. We’ve been involved for about 8 years now. Okay, it’s not really love, it’s obsession. It’s a real problem, and I hate to admit, but it’s an addiction.

This object of my affection, Bonnie Bell’s Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker ($1.60), has been there for me since my sophomore year in high school. Since then, I’ve always had one in my pocket or two to three in my purse. If I don’t, I kind of freak out. No, not kind of. I do freak out. It’s all I wear unless there is some sort of special occasion where I might wear some kind of gloss, but that’s always worn under my Lip Smacker.

I don’t know what it is about that particular flavor of lip balm that makes me this way. I don’t particularly like the flavor of soda or even drink much of it, for that matter, but I’ll always remember the first time I tried it in Lip Smacker form. I was given a trio package of flavors in a Christmas stocking: A&W Root Beer, Cherry 7-Up, and Dr. Pepper (angel’s singing). A&W was kind of weird and made my lips brown. No thanks. Cherry 7-Up was okay, but made my lips too pink. With Dr. Pepper, I was in love at first application. I don’t like to wear lip stick at all, and Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker helps my chapped lips, plus it gives me a tint of subtle color.

This is the only brand loyalty I have. I can use any kind of mascara, eyeliner, blush, or eye shadow, but the Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker is a necessity.

Kind of seems like lip balm addition is something silly, but check out Lip Balm Anonymous . Apparently, it’s not a laughing matter and they mean BUSINESS! I write this as I giggle to myself. Maybe I do need help.

According to today’s Seattle Times, the beehive is back. If you’re happy about this beauty world development, you can thank Amy Winehouse and maybe the hoopla surrounding Hairspray. And if you don’t like this distinctly 60s style, well, this too shall pass, honey.

But you don’t really have to go as far as Winehouse to get the look–the teased up bump on the head still counts. In the article, stylist Ian James says anyone can achieve this look and gives these tips:

1. divide your hair into 3-inch sections
2. tease each section, starting at the crown to about 2 inches from the root
3. lightly spray each section
4. shape and tamed the teased hair into the desired style

Of course, I’m no stylist to the stars, but as someone who used to be into the mod look, I’m pretty shocked that good, old-fashioned mousse was not part of James’ ingredients list. I say, if you want height that will last, you have to apply a bit of the foamy stuff while your hair is still wet. Then, blow dry from the roots and proceed with the directions above. Trust me, I’ve done it a trillion times, and my hair is super heavy, so if it works for me….

One thing Ian James and I can agree on is that loose is best when it comes to the beehive of today. So, pin those teased tresses up, but make sure it’s not too perfect. The result–sexy, sexy hair.

Here’s some dramatic and refined inspiration:

The coolest girl group of the 60s, The Ronnettes:

The lovely Lily Allen:

and the incomparable Audrey Hepburn:

Photos Source and Source

Even if I didn’t love Rachel Perry products for what they do, I would still probably buy them for the packaging alone. Take this pot of Lip Lover lip balm in Very Vanilla (about $2.50), for example. How much do you love that art deco styling? Only the chicest of girls would pull this out of her handbag in lieu of some crazy expensive lip treatment that may or may not do all it promises.

Thankfully, it’s not all about the looks. In fact, Rachel Perry’s whole range of cosmetics and skincare products is natural and totally effective. This stuff includes antioxidants, exfoliating enzymes and soothing agents–the Clay and Ginseng Uplifting Mask, alone, includes clay from French Alps, Korean ginseng, papaya, Echinacea and eucalyptus.

Along with this luscious SPF 15 lip balm that also comes in Mint Tingle (love it!), Grape Juice and Chocolate Bliss, Rachel Perry makes toners, moisturizers, scrubs, makeup and more that won’t break the bank.

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You’ve heard of knock-off designer purses but what about fake-o ads?  This pic of a vine-swinging Mimi has been floating around the internet purporting to be a real ad for Mariah Carey’s upcoming women’s perfume, M:

Too bad it’s just an old Gisele ad:

According to Young, Black and Fabulous, they just photoshopped in Mariah’s face from an Atlantic City Weekly cover. Come on, Mariah and Gisele have very different bodies.  What is true is that M will be released this fall.