I remember the first time I saw “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It was during a hot August afternoon back in my graduate student days. The fact that I was watching a Christmas movie on a day that was 95 degrees in my New York living room didn’t stop me from crying through most of the …
Skincare Ingredient Glossary and Ingredient-Based Product Recommendations
Allure is a great source of information for me on all things beauty. I often turn to Allure for new product information, product recommendations, how-to tips, and what’s new in anti-aging. Skincare Glossary Recently at allure.com, I found a terrific glossary of skincare ingredients and terminology, and I had to share it with you. There …
Hair & Humidity: Bed Head Tigi Straighten Out and Chi Air Ceramic Flat Iron
The humidity this summer has been intense. My thick coarse hair looks like a big frizzy bubble. What to do? During the rest of the year, I used John Freida Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight spray ($9.99 at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, Target etc.) along with the Conair flat iron that I bought …
Heart Ful Moisture Lipstick from Holika Holika: Super-cute Heart-Shaped Lipstick
Well, the hearts are back again. I can’t seem to avoid them. Or rather, I seek them out. And the likely place to find the cutest makeup with hearts is, of course, South Korea! I discovered Heart Ful Moisture Lipstick from the Korean brand, Holika Holika, online, and I couldn’t resist. The lipstick comes in …
ipsy Beach Beauty Bag July 2013: The Details
Last week, I posted a quick Instagram video that showed what I got in the July 2013 Beach Beauty Bag. Here’s a little more info on ipsy and the items in the bag. Again, ipsy is a monthly subscription service for beauty products. The price is $10/month with free shipping in the U.S. You can …
Five under $5: My Favorite Super-Affordable Beauty Buys
There’s not much you can buy these days for $5 or less. But I’ve come up with five beauty products that I think are really great buys. 1. essence gel-look topcoat You’re probably tired of me singing the praises of this topcoat, but I can’t get over how well it works for me. I …
At-Home Hair Color Gets Closer to Salon?
I’ve been coloring my hair at Vidal Sassoon since, well, forever. I decided way back that I was meant to be a redhead. On a business trip to London, I thought I could either go to sleep after the long flight or get my hair colored red. I chose red hair. Actually, the colorist at …
Estee Lauder Mad Men See-Thru Blush Revisited
Sunday nights are not the same. I have a serious case of Mad Men withdrawal. I was shocked by the final episode. I didn’t see most of what happened coming, though probably I should have. Anyway, I can’t believe we have to wait till next year for the next season to start. Will Don change? …
ipsy Beach Beauty Bag July 2013: Instagram Video Teaser
In this short post, I’d like to highlight two new things for me: Instagram video and the beauty sample box service, ipsy. Instagram makes it possible to upload 15 second videos, and I think I’ve figured out how to get them into my blog (at least it works with Safari and Firefox). Unfortunately, 15 seconds …
Bruising and Aging
Last week I noticed I had a big bruise on my torso. I had no clue where it came from. Was it from carrying the metal-edged laundry basket against my rib cage as I brought it upstairs from the laundry room? I was trying to remember what I could have done to myself. Today, I …
Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar
Do you remember Julie Christie? She was stunning (and still is) in Doctor Zhivago, Darling, Shampoo, Petulia in the Sixties and Seventies. I loved her long (usually) blonde hair, bangs and the pale lipstick she wore. So, I was channeling my inner Julie Christie when I tried Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar in Annika, a “toned-up …
Sunscreen and UV Protection Future Breakthrough via Daily Glow
Breaking News: Sunscreen and UV Protection in a Pill from Daily Glow Truth be told, I detest wearing sunscreen. Since I usually go for the mineral based sunscreen, I am always applying heavy creams. In the hot weather, they make me feel hotter and greasier. So I was so excited to read that researchers discovered …
Summer Fun: Best/Worst U.S. Cities for Your Skin via Daily Glow
Best/Worst U.S. Cities for Your Skin It’s summer, and time to have a little fun. The Daily Glow ranked 55 major U.S. cities on how skin friendly or unfriendly they are. The study took into consideration factors like lifestyle including exercise, pollution, amount of sun, weather, number of dermatologists, and even the propensity for tanning …
essence gel-look topcoat
In the back of my mind, I’ve been mulling over purchasing Guerlain Le Top Coat ever since my friend, Sybille, wrote a guest post extolling its virtues a couple of months ago. The only thing that has held me back was the $23 price tag. While working on a project for essence, I was given …
Clinique Summer 2013 Gift with Purchase at Lord & Taylor
Clinique was the first “prestige” brand that I bought when I was a college student back in the day. It was so modern and so made for young women who were looking for a whole new take on makeup and skincare. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion was dramatically different back then. And I’m so excited to …