Beauty Blog

For all of you vintage Hollywood glamour junkies like myself, I ask…who on earth wouldn’t want to look like the stunning Veronica Lake?!

Her skin! Her eyes! Her fabulous hair!  Kate Bosworth recently took inspiration from the glamorous Lake, and copied this look for the Costume Institute Gala.  Bosworth doesn’t need much to look beautiful, her different colored eyes are captivating, and she already had great hair for this style. Also take note of the red lips!

To achieve this style, there are a few steps in the actual styling process.  First you must start with a good blow dry, apply a good styling creme. I’m going to highly recommend the Jonathan Silky Dirt Shine & Define Creme $16

This stuff is awesome because it can be used on damp or dry hair, and it can be used as a grooming creme and a shine treatment.  This will be all you need for the styling process!  The convenience is unbeatable, how annoying and un-ecofriendly is it to have to buy and use multiple hair products for one type of style?  Plus, this Jonathan Product is 100 percent vegan, and contains no animal, wheat-gluten or gluten-derived ingredients.  After you’ve applied this and blow dried smooth with a round brush, take small pieces of the hair and curl with a curling iron, then pin up with bobby pins.  After letting set for about ten minutes, remove bobby pins and brush out curls gently.  After you’ve done this, apply a bit more of the shine creme to your hair with the your fingertips.  This hairstyle is meant to have a severe side part like Lake’s and Bosworth’s, plus side parts make the nose look more delicate.

Once you’ve achieved the hair, the rest is easy.  Bosworth looks as though she has naturally long lashes, but if you weren’t born with such a gift, it doesn’t hurt to fake it once in a while. Going with some cheap fake eyelashes is fine, you’re not going to keep them forever right? If you go with falsies that have a finer texture, they are going to look more real.  These MAC 21 Lashes are only $12, and you could probably wear them again since they are decent quality.

MAC 21 Lash: $12

And here’s a tip: fake eyelashes always go on better and look better if applied over a thin black eyeline done with some liquid eyeliner.

Now for the lips, I’ve already suggested one of my favorites which would be MAC’s Ruby Woo–the truest of true ruby red’s.  But I am curious to see how the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte is, $34 sephora.com.  The smooth and creamy lipstick not only comes in this fabulous gold tube (very old Hollywood glam), but it is chock full of pigmented color and has an SPF of 15. Perfect!  Try the Red Muse shade.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more red lipstick and flake eyelashes.
Discounts on styling creme.

Summer’s almost here!  Have you trashed your last year’s sunscreen bottles yet?  If not it is time to check the expiration dates on your old tubes.  Experts say that sunscreens have a shelf life of about a year and tend to become less stable over time.  Lately sunscreens have become so sophisticated in their technology and application that fortunately we women don’t have to worry about goopy white residues that make our makeup look kinda funny.  Dermatologists feel that effective sunscreens should have the following minimum characteristics:

1)  Should definitely be broad or full spectrum, that is protect our skin from both UVA and UVB rays that cause skin cancer and premature aging.

2)  Should at least have 4-5% of zincoxide or titanium oxide.

3)  Should at least be SPF 15 though SPF 30 is recommended by most doctors.

Today’s sunscreens are formulated to deliver much more than the above specifications.  Many multitask as moisturizers, anti-aging creams, primers, serums and foundations in addition to offering sun protection saving us both time and money.  They are also designed to go under makeup unlike the sunscreens of our grandmother’ times.  Though SPFs from individual makeup components do not add up directly to give a higher SPF number, they do add up in quantity to give more sun coverage.  When it comes to sunscreen generous amounts and constant reapplications never hurt.

Here are some top performing smart sunscreens that perform more than one role:

1) Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 45 Daily Moisturizer: $23.90

In addition to UVA and UVB protection, this moisturizer has an exclusive antioxidant blend with pure Vitamin E, which helps prevent environmental damage.  Moreover it is very non-greasy and light.

2) Kate Somerville Serum Sunscreen SPF 55: $45

This antioxidant rich serum that is paraben and oil free provides UVA/UVB protection and is also water resistant.  So great one for swimmers.

3) Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen SPF 30: $22

This is a non-oily and quick absorbing sunscreen that is formulated to leave a shine free finish.  In addition, it is enriched with Vitamins A, C and E to help fight against free radical damage.
4) La Roche Posay - Anthelios XL Tinted Creme SPF 50+: $25.60

This French tinted sun screen offers one of the best protection against UVA/UVB rays and is the top choice for many dermatologists. It contains Mexoryl SX and XL filters which are supposed to be one of the most effective FDA-approved organic filters designed to protect against short UVA rays with high photostability, which is important as it will not degrade as quickly as other sunscreens in the market with sun exposure.  It is also extremely resistant to water and sweat even during excessive outdoor activities and water sports.  Probably one of the more expensive choices out there at around $ 40 for a 50 ml. tube.  But sometimes you get what you pay for.

5)  Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion SPF 30: $9.00

This oil free, non-irritating gently face and neck 24 hour moisturizer with SPF 30 is one of the best values.  It contains microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that provide broad physical block against UV induced skin damage.
7)  MAC Prep and Prime Face Protect SPF 50: $28

A skin primer with broad spectrum SPF 50 is oil free and light and is specially formulated with oil-absorbing powder to prevent oil breakthrough and give a matte finish.  Also helps guard the skin against discoloration, premature aging and dryness due to sun exposure.  I can personally say that makeup glides beautifully on it.

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more sunscreen.
Discounts on Neutrogena sunscreen and La Roche Posay sunscreen.

M.A.C. has tapped Fergie for the latest Viva Glam ads, and while I’m all for the cause, I’m rarely pro-Fergie.  However, for some inexplicable reason she seems to have a lot of fans, so I guess this was a good match.

Fergie told WWD:

I have been a fan of Viva Glam for a long time — I have been following the campaign for years and I think it’s a great outreach…MAC picks people like RuPaul, Mary J. Blige — people that are a little controversial and aren’t afraid to speak their minds. I’m very proud to be a part of it.

Ooh, fun news! French artist Fafi, whose made a name for herself in the graffiti and more lofty fine art scenes, is teaming up with MAC cosmetics.  Fafi’s female characters are tough and sexy, which works quite well with the MAC aesthetic, no? The collection is slated for a February release and is sure to sell out.

The packaging looks fantastic. I can’t wait.

Although I know such and admission puts me in party-pooper territory, I have to admit I’m not into Halloween. I mean I don’t mind seeing little kids in cute costumes, and I definitely have nostalgic feelings about the holiday, but I never get the urge to dress up anymore. It’s just not my thing. All that said, if I suddenly did feel like donning a costume, I might be swayed to try one of the goolishly gorgeous Halloween looks that M.A.C. has dreamed up.

Their website features 30 different faces, all of which are displayed along with the makeup necessary to achieve looks that span from “pretty things” to “robotniks.” As the above examples show, the concepts are pretty amazing, but they seem hard to duplicate. Also, purchasing all the makeup to create the disguise will run you upwards of $100. But I guess you get to keep the makeup, so while the price is steep, it’s justifiable.

Want M.A.C.’s help this Halloween? Check it out here.