Archive for September, 2009

A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of celebrating Fashion’s Night Out with Purple Lab, a new cosmetics company based out of New York City, focusing on as they put it, ”double-duty beauty.” The company threw a hip soiree at Scoop Boutique in the fashionable Meat Packing District to celebrate their amazing product Huge Lips Skinny Hips. With a title like that I was instantly intrigued. After all who doesn’t want huge lips and skinny hips, right? Since that night I have tried out this appealing little lip gloss and have  doubly given it my seal of approval. (more…)

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For the fall, Jessica Cosmetics was inspired by the drama, glamour, and bold colors of burlesque to introduce their new collection, Burlesque Beauty. The colors in this collection are rich, gorgeous berry shades (and even a surprising green!). I found each shade to be subtly sexy, and at $7.50/each, relatively affordable as well. Here are the 6 shades that make up Burlesque Beauty:

• Gorgeous Garter Belt: This is a gorgeous magenta shade, bright and pink. Love this on my toes!
• Ruffled Bottoms: A dark violet color that is pure, pigmented purple.
• Fishnets and Fringe: This is a very dark hunter green color with slight shimmer. Admittedly not great with my skin tone, but still nice.
• For Your Eyes Only: Super stunning, deep grape shade. Obsesssssed.
• Feather Boa: Jessica describes this as “mauve,” but it has very purple-y undertones.
• Sexy Siren: A deep, rich plum that has some pink/red undertones.

Overall, I just loved these new shades! Each polish color is so pretty, creamy, and easy to apply. I have trouble applying my own polish (which I’ve been doing more lately to save money as a poor grad student), but these went on really smoothly. For more information, go to jessicacosmetics.com.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve traveled to the Pacific Northwest at least once a year to visit my grandparents in Vancouver, WA, a suburb just north of the Oregon/Washington border. While Vancouver is nothing to rave about, visiting them has afforded me the opportunities to travel to other areas in Washington and Oregon. On this trip, I decided to spend a few days in Portland by myself; exploring, dining, wandering, and learning all about the city on my own! (more…)

Julie Hewett has been been one of the foremost makeup artists working in Hollywood over the past 20 years. Her cult favorite Noir Collection of red lipsticks was specially designed on the set of the film Pearl Harbor when she needed long-lasting, pigmented shades. Julie has since designed an entire line of cosmetics called Julie Hewett Los Angeles that celebrities are obsessing over–and you will, too. One of my favorites, pictured above left, is the organic Camellia Balm. It’s so soothing for dry lips, and my lips always feel really supple after using. Camellia oil is said to be most similar to human skin oil, so it absorbs quickly. It also smells good and makes for a smooth base under lipstick or gloss.

The other standout product in Julie’s line is definitely the Cheekie. The Cheekie is also made with Camellia oil, and gives your cheeks or lips an instant flush. It’s pictured above right in a new shade called Destiny, which Julie made for Miley Cyrus (Miley’s real name: Destiny) on the set of the new Nicholas Sparks movie The Last Song. I love this shade as it adds a pretty, dusty pink glow to my cheeks instantly. The Cheekie comes in a pot and you can buy a brush to apply it with. I’ve been using my fingertips just as easily though, and I just love how naturally gorgeous it looks. On my lips, the consistency of the Cheekie was a bit more dry, so I used the Camellia Balm as a base. It added a perfect, neutral matte pink to my lips. Gotta love a multitasker! To check out Julie Hewett Los Angeles for yourself, visit juliehewett.net.

The Emmy Awards aired last night and is television’s celebration of its very best. Of course, we love to analyze the best of the red carpet fashion worn by the stars the morning after! Here are a few of our favorite looks in no particular order–keep reading for the scoop on who wore what, and share your thoughts with us too!

Up first is Olivia Wilde from House, looking stunning in a Marchesa gown straight from their SS 2010 presentation. The gown had layers of juniper embroidered tulle and petal pleats, with a revealing, yet delicate, bodice. She also carried a pretty Marchesa crystal embroidered clutch. We also loved Blake Lively, who looked glowing and sultry in a deep red Versace with a plunging neckline. Her hair was elegantly done in a goddess-esque braid by Renato Campora of Frederic Fekkai, and her makeup was flawless (Dior, of course). (more…)

True genius means bringing something totally fresh to the table, something that both benefits and engages everyone seeking involvement. This is exactly what the infamously over-the-top and incredibly brilliant Isaac Mizrahi did with his Spring 2010 show.

As eager attendees entered a deeply lit room playing soft Astaire-era music, setting a clear tone for the entire show, they began to wonder how the Old-Hollywood style stage lift and obstacle-course like runway would come in to play. Once the presentation started, Mizrahi’s vision became clear…inspired by the days of Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly, romantic pastel skirts and sequin embellished lapels vibrantly graced the stage for all to see perfectly. Seats did not matter, personalities did not matter: all eyes were glued to one place, simply in awe.

With the integration of everything from bustled tulle ball gowns with enormous rosettes to satin tuxedos with spectator pumps and boating hats, the perfect mix of girlish glamour and androgynous strength proved just enough to enthuse all simpletons and style-setters alike. True beauty in fabric form led a classic throwback to gain new meaning and spark the imagination to develop unique interpretations of re-inventing trends.

Yet just as the collection began to satisfy beyond all expectations, the garments of course speaking for themselves, Isaac pulled out all the stops. Rain poured down from the ceiling, male models escorted their ladies under umbrellas, looks glided across the runway every which way and closers entered the floor via golf carts. Every detail from accessory to spotlight was taken in to consideration and for good cause.

A showman he certainly is, a tastemaker even more so. After a Spring 2010 Fashion Week that definitely had our minds racing in a million directions, we could not have found a better way back to a clear, inspired mind. Isaac definitely stole the season.

By Malorie Kaye

I was doing some school supply shopping at my local CVS when I saw a big ad for the Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller. I’m always looking for undereye circle solutions, so this caught my attention. The ad claimed that the Anti-Puff Eye Roller was a popular product that was “sold every 15 minutes.” Hmm, I thought to myself, either this product is a miracle worker or there’s a sucker buying every 15 minutes. Even though that sucker could be me, I bought it anyway. At a drugstore price of about $13, how could I resist?

So, did it work? Well… yes and no. Applying the roller is very easy, and it leaves a cooling, soothing feeling on your skin. It does feel really good. After I applied, I noticed that my eye area was immediately brighter. The formula is sheer, but it is definitely brightening. However, it didn’t reduce any puffiness nor dark circles. I’ve been using a week now, and will continue using for a bit in case the results take longer to achieve. You can pick this up at your local drugstore or on drugstore.com–let us know how it works for you!

Purple shadows are all the rage for fall.  Almost every new collection has a purple shade or two, but the compact that I love the absolute most comes from Dior.  It’s so gorgeous, it literally took my breath away when I opened it.

The Night Butterfly palette contains five different shades that each look great on their own, but layered together, they’re simply amazing.  The shades included are: Violet, Light Lavender, Black with Silver Micro Glitter, Gray, and Eggplant Purple.  They vary from slightly sheer to intense coverage, and are extremely versatile.  You can use them to create a simple daytime look – I’ve been pairing the Light Lavender and Gray for that.  Or you can use the darker shades for a smoky eye to go out with at night.  For that, I’ve been using the Eggplant Purple and the glittery black shade, which is absolutely stunning.  It’s shimmery without being “disco ball” and sexy without being too overwhelming.  It’s quite possibly the perfect evening shadow.  (And you don’t have to limit yourself – you can use it with any other shadows that you own as well).

If you’re looking for a great collection of purple shadows, yo really can’t go wrong with Night Butterfly.  (It even has a pretty name!)  It’s a splurge at $56, but if you’re going to treat yourself to something, you’ll get so much use out of this palette, it’ll definitely be worth it. Available at Sephora.com.