Beauty Blog » 2008 » February

Guy Trends! Notice the troop of males sporting extra large ear ornamentation at this year’s Oscar celebration? Read more at Glamour.com …

Whilst in the land of Smarter Beauty we discussed:

I chose my favorite picks for best make-up and hair at this years Oscars! The Good, The Bad, & John Travolta’s Painted Chrome!

Free Gift at Saks 5th Avenue!

Take a whiff of my favorite scent of the moment, Daisy by Marc Jacobs! Guaranteed to garner you compliments from fellow felines but most importantly the gentlemen folk…

Human Hair used to trim your apparel! Hair Scare? or Daring Hair? Read about Chris March from Project Runway’s Hairy Collection…

Editor’s Note:

I hope you have enjoyed my beauty posts, it has been quite a feat trying to fill Valentina’s beauty shoes! I am open to any beauty deals, coupons or beauty post ideas you would like to share with me.

May the beauty gods bless you and keep you, and kiss your ugly heads at night!

Michelle

Let me preface with “I love Chris March!” from Project Runway. I liked him from the onset. His rotund frame and jovial laughter warmed my icy heart. I always knew that Christian was going to end up on the final three (talented but cold he is) and I had high hopes for Jillian. However here is my two cents on Rami:

• While I loved loved his first Grecian drapery dress, it got old quick and he seems like a one trick pony!
• I started not liking him after that one episode when I felt he was insufferably rude to Sweet Pea (whose dress that episode was far superior to his! Karma sucks huh? Ha!)
• Lastly, I did not like his looks for the final runway show. While we all thank god he didn’t parade a string of Grecian gowns in different colors and fabrics, I felt the fit was all wrong and it was nothing new or inspiring.

Now let’s talk about Chris March and his use of HUMAN HAIR EXTENSIONS in his design work!

So the collar and trim of the jacket is lined with human hair extensions. At first I was a touch repulsed by the idea of human hair collars, but actually I think it was well designed and the idea of combing my jacket and flat ironing my coat kinda tickles me. I think its high time that some wit be interjected into the stuffy realm of high fashion!

I actually thought this dress was pretty. The hair extensions skirt looks nice and silky. More like fine mohair, one would never guess it was made of human hair. Also, I would have a field day at a party wearing this skirt and creating tall tales of how I was able to attain the scalps of hundreds of raven haired women!

If you would like to experiment with hair extensions in your apparel click here, or any of the “hair extension” links in the post.

So that’s my opinion, what’s yours?

Hair Scare? or  Hair Dare? 

My current favorite scent is Daisy by Marc Jacobs! It’s light, sweet and refreshing. And its the first fragrance in a loooong time that has garnered me compliments, from MEN and women alike! That is perhaps the best indication of a truly great perfume. The worst would probably be public cringing and crinkling of noses as you pass by.

Anyhow Daisy is a really light and mellow floral fragrance. Official top notes are bright and fresh violet leaves and wild strawberries, milder subtle notes are of comfortable violet petals and jasmine bouquets, the foundation is feminine musk and vanilla infusion. Sounds like a whole lot is going on right? But it’s nice, believe me.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs retails from anywhere from $50 - $90 dollars depending on the size of the bottle and the merchant.

My suggestion if your hesitant to invest in a large bottle of the stuff is to purchase the MARC JACOBS ‘Daisy’ Eau de Toilette Spray which retails for only $40 dollars and comes with a refill and golden funnel. Truly adorable and perfect for your purse!

To shop for discount perfume options on Daisy by Marc Jacobs, click here.

Saks Fifth Avenue

I recently received a $400 dollar gift certificate for Saks Fifth Avenue so I have been visiting their website to peruse my spending options before I head over there. As luck would have it I came across this great deal on FREE GIFT with purchase! My good luck, shall be your good luck!

This exclusive terry case filled with goodies is yours with any cosmetic or fragrance purchase of $100. Include three travel-size containers, a travel toothbrush, a terry headband, plus deluxe samples of Annick Goutal Petite Cherie fragrance, our exclusive Chloé fragrance, Clinique High Impact Mascara, Estee Lauder Ultimate Youth Creme, Laura Mercier Lip Plumper, one of: Fekkai Glossing Cream, Technician Mask or Technician Shampoo. Contents of case may vary. Please let us choose color of case. Use code AGELESS at checkout.
*ONE GIFT PER CUSTOMER. ONE PROMO CODE PER ORDER. Valid at saks.com thru Sun., March 9, 2008 at 11:59pm(ET) or while supplies last. Use code: AGELESS at checkout. Purchase must contain $100 of cosmetics or fragrance. Purchase excludes shipping, taxes, gift-wrap. Cannot be combined with any other offer. No adjustments to prior purchases. Not transferable.

THE GOOD

Here are my personal picks for fabulous hair, makeup and general hotness!

I think my choices speak for themselves, if you question or doubt one of my picks by all means, lets debate!

THE BAD

I grow weary of her scrunched up face…I think the “yo yo” dieting for her craft is wearing down her looks.

Umm…she scares me. She looks like a corpse drapped in the lining of her own coffin….

Ok, I know I am going to get alot of heat for the following statement but I stand by my convictions. All my nieces are hopelessly devoted to Ms. Hannah Montana as well; but lucky for me they do not read this. I am sure she is a sweet girl and a breathe of fresh air compared to the “Spears Klan” but I do not approve of her hair and makeup people. Frankly, they should be fired! They make her look much older than she is and dare I say it, sort of “bratty tranny-ish”. I’m sorry but thats my two cents for what its worth.

THE UGLY

Again I realize some of you might find me harsh, but it breaks my heart more than you will ever know. I use to subscribe to the I heart John Travolta fanclub! (Grease Era) But what sort of hybrid crop rotation is occurring on his cranium!? It looks like artificial turf was super glued to his skull in the semblance of hair? Mr. Travolta how about you grab your buddy Nick Cage and you subscribe to the Bruce Willis “Hair Club for Men” aka. Bald & Beautiful!

Whew! Ok I am done, all in all I enjoyed the 2008 Oscar ceremony. Plenty of genuine sentimental moments, glitz, glam and sparkle. Plus you can never go wrong with Jon Stewart at the helm!

• Justin Timberlake is releasing a new men’s fragrance for Givenchy according to Now Smell This!

• Take 10 Years Off Your Age Right Now! Receive a few simple tips that will help you start to looking younger starting today… at Girl Paint!
  

• Fall 2008 Hair Trend: Smooth and Sleek check out what hair trends dominated the runways at Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Doo Ri, YSL, Michael Kors, Valentino, Gucci, Dior and more at Beauty Snob! 

Do you have a weird beauty habit that you can not seem to break? Are you obsessive about a particular beauty myth? Or Two? Or Three? Well your not alone, I think we all have strange beauty quirks and beauty myths that we swear by in the privacy of our own home. I have a ton, here is just a taste of the insanity:

• I never sleep with wet hair! I heard you go bald!? (or get a cold…or the really dumb one, go blind!)
• Whenever I get the chance I prop my feet up against a wall, it feels good after a long day and I was told that it helps prevent or eliminate varicose veins.
• I apply lotion to “just my hands” over and over throughout the day. (I am particular about the scent, and it can not be super greasy lotion but quick absorbent types, or else I will wash them and apply anew… crazy huh?)

Well I did some research and here are some Myths De-bunked!

YES! - Apparently propping your legs against a wall or elevating does help prevent or improve varicose veins! Reportedly raising your legs above heart level helps improve circulation and the blood from pooling. I think this afflicition is largely hereditary and if you already have them, I don’t think raising your legs at the end of a tiresome day will do much for you. But it can’t hurt.

Read this article ” Elevate Your Legs For Varicose Veins” for more details.

YES & NO! - While there is no medical reason not to sleep with wet hair (you won’t go blind, thats for sure!) it’s also not highly recommended. According to “Is it bad to sleep with wet hair?” hair is the most fragile and most prone to breaking when wet so it would not be wise to roughly brush threw your locks when moist or sleep whilst soaking wet. You won’t wake up bald, but there will be a few more lonely strands lying on your pillow in the morning!

As for my lotion fetish, well I am going to have to just chalk that up as un-diagnosed OCD! I shared my secret freak side, what’s yours?

WARNING: Click on image for more pictures, but be warned they are Not Safe for Work (NSFW)

In 1962, photographer Bert Stern shot a series of photos of Marilyn Monroe at the Hotel Bel-Air that have collectively come to be known as “The Last Sitting.” The photographs are arguably the most famous images ever captured of America’s most famous actress. Six weeks after she had posed, Monroe was found dead of an apparent barbiturate overdose.

Now la’ Lohan is trying to capture similar lightning in her tired, haggard looking bottle! Ha! Only one word comes to mind when I view this collection of images: BEAT!

As in: “Beat up! Life beat her down….just BEAT!” - yeck!

Am I wrong? What do you guys think? Love it or Hate it?

Blue and braids ruled the Gareth Pugh Fall 2008 at London Fashion Week.  Are you ready for it?

Hi all,

Well, it’s very sad, but I will no longer be writing the Smarter Beauty Blog.  I’ve been offered a copywriting position in the beauty industry, so I’m moving on.  I leave you in the hands of Michelle, who writes the Smarter Home & Garden Blog.  She’ll be bringing you beauty tips, news and deals.   Thanks for reading.

Stay beautiful,

Valentina