In case y'all didn't hear about the original Rodarte for MAC uproar, the short story is: Rodarte decided to do a line with MAC that was inspired by their road trip to Mexico, where they apparently spent a lot of time around Juarez. Juarez is a town in Mexico full of factories that mainly women work at, and for the last few decades there has been terrible violence in Mexico directed towards these women--rapes, murders, serial murders, assault. Rodarte named a nail polish Juarez, another polish Factory, a blush Quinceanera, and so on.
There was blogosphere uproar about how distasteful the product names were, and MAC pretty much became terrified no one would buy anything from the collection, so they said that they would change product names and donate 100K to organizations helping women in Juarez. The feedback on that was that it was too little, too late. So yesterday, MAC announced that they would be donating ALL of the profits from the collection to an organization in Mexico. Here's the press release:
"MEXICO CITY, México, July 29, 2010 – In response to public concern over the limited edition MAC Rodarte makeup collection, set to launch in fall 2010, MAC will donate all of its global profits from this collection to a newly created initiative to raise awareness and provide on-the-ground support to the women and girls in Juarez. MAC and Rodarte are deeply sorry that this makeup collection was so offensive to the people of Mexico and concerned global citizens.
This announcement follows a meeting last evening in Mexico City with MAC executives and Mexican government officials, including CONAVIM (Comisión Nacional Para Prevenir y Erradicar la Violencia Contra las Mujeres/National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence Against Women.)
During the meeting, held at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this collective group committed to working together on the overall direction of the new initiative to help the women and girls of Juarez and to raise global awareness of their plight. MAC executives reiterated their deep regret and reinforced that it was never MAC’s or Rodarte’s intent to minimize the suffering of the women and girls of Ciudad Juarez.
In the coming weeks, MAC and Rodarte will be consulting with members of CONAVIM´s advisory board, as well as other local and global experts, to develop a comprehensive framework that provides grants to local and international organizations with a track record of improving the lives of the women and girls in Juarez.
“We are deeply sorry and apologize to everyone we offended, especially the victims, the women and girls of Juarez and their families. We have heard the response of concerned global citizens loud and clear and are doing our very best to right our wrong. The essence of MAC is to give back and care for the community and our initial handling of this makeup collection was not reflective of MAC’s values. MAC and Rodarte are committed to using these learnings to raise awareness on this important issue and to leverage our unique platform to help the women and girls of Juarez,” said MAC President John Demsey.
“Rodarte is committed to using creativity for positive social change. As designers, we strongly feel it is our responsibility to use ideas and actions for the good of our global community and are truly sorry for the offense we have caused. We are raising our voices in support of the strong women and girls of Juarez and joining others who are working internationally to improve their lives,” said Kate and Laura Mulleavy, designers of Rodarte.
Last week, MAC and Rodarte announced they would also be renaming the products and redesigning the marketing materials associated with the collection.
MAC has a longstanding tradition of service in Mexico, supporting important social causes in the country such as HIV prevention and treatment. Since 2002, the MAC AIDS Fund has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local entities, including Fundación Eudes, La Casa de la Sal, A.C., Ser Humano, A.C., Mesón de la Misericordia Divina A.C., Pirana Studio, and Fundación Unidos por un México Vivo.
MAC has had operations in Mexico since 1999. The brand currently employs more than 150 local professionals."
All I have to say about this is WOOHOO! It still bothers me that MAC and Rodarte started this collection off on such a distasteful foot, but that is a lot of money going to help the residents of Juarez, and just because of that I'll be buying some pieces from the collection.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday Cravings
Friday means random, mainly because my brain is fried and I spent way too much time last night watching the Jersey Shore premiere (love hate) and not enough time sleeping (boo). Here are some random lovely bits and bobs to help you through the last stretch until the weekend.
Soft Joie Bowie Top, $78 at shopbop.com, Hunter Boots Grizzly Cuff Welly Socks, $40 at shopbop.com, Chloe Brunelle Sunglasses, $285 at shopbop.com: I'm one of those weird people who will wear a sundress and get all gussied up to go to the grocery store, but when it comes to what I wear at home, I am a total slob. I try to look cute, but the main priority is 100% cozy. So when cute and cozy happen to coincide in a certain slouchy, Frenchie striped, pocket tee, I'm a happy camper. I really like this tee because it's just oversized enough to be comfy and casual, but not so big that it overwhelms your torso and veers into fugland. The stripes add a bit of French girl pep, and the 3/4 length sleeves are perfect, as they disguise any upper arm issues (which do not make for happy cozy time) but aren't as hot or bulky as long sleeves. I can't even begin to tell you how happy these socks make me. I have black Hunter rainboots that I got for the rain/snow at school in Boston, and while I'm really happy that I got black because they go with everything, sometimes I wish they were a bit more snazzy. Enter these faux fur welly socks. The fur folds over the top of the Hunters so that you get a bit of casual-glam and the little Hunter label still shows up, for all my fellow label whores. I know, I know, I just got a pair of sunglasses. But in my theoretical world where I can afford multiple pairs of designer sunglasses, I'd also pick up these. They combine oversized and square really nicely, which is super flattering for round faces like mine, and they manage to look somehow both really modern and slightly retro.
Image Sources:
Soft Joie top: shopbop.com, Hunter socks: shopbop.com, Chloe sunglasses: shopbop.com.
Soft Joie Bowie Top, $78 at shopbop.com, Hunter Boots Grizzly Cuff Welly Socks, $40 at shopbop.com, Chloe Brunelle Sunglasses, $285 at shopbop.com: I'm one of those weird people who will wear a sundress and get all gussied up to go to the grocery store, but when it comes to what I wear at home, I am a total slob. I try to look cute, but the main priority is 100% cozy. So when cute and cozy happen to coincide in a certain slouchy, Frenchie striped, pocket tee, I'm a happy camper. I really like this tee because it's just oversized enough to be comfy and casual, but not so big that it overwhelms your torso and veers into fugland. The stripes add a bit of French girl pep, and the 3/4 length sleeves are perfect, as they disguise any upper arm issues (which do not make for happy cozy time) but aren't as hot or bulky as long sleeves. I can't even begin to tell you how happy these socks make me. I have black Hunter rainboots that I got for the rain/snow at school in Boston, and while I'm really happy that I got black because they go with everything, sometimes I wish they were a bit more snazzy. Enter these faux fur welly socks. The fur folds over the top of the Hunters so that you get a bit of casual-glam and the little Hunter label still shows up, for all my fellow label whores. I know, I know, I just got a pair of sunglasses. But in my theoretical world where I can afford multiple pairs of designer sunglasses, I'd also pick up these. They combine oversized and square really nicely, which is super flattering for round faces like mine, and they manage to look somehow both really modern and slightly retro.
Image Sources:
Soft Joie top: shopbop.com, Hunter socks: shopbop.com, Chloe sunglasses: shopbop.com.
Inspired by: Sophia Loren
When I look to Hollywood for fashion inspiration, 9 times out of 10 I turn to Old Hollywood stars. Their looks are so pulled together and polished, and I love how they celebrated curvier, more hourglassy body types. Of course, the epitome of retro and hourglass is Sophia Loren, so I thought it would be a fun Friday-get-me-through-to-the-weekend pick-me-up to have a little Sophia inspired fashion moment.
Eyelet Corset Top, $58 at anthropologie.com, Forever 21 Belted Linen Skirt, $15.80 at forever21.com: I know I just posted this top, but it was the best bustier/cami I could find for this look. Sophia almost always played up her torso with a bustier-inspired top, and I wanted one that wasn't too over the top or slutty. I like this one because it comes in white eyelet, which is very refreshing and summery, and also balances out the inherent sexiness of the cut. I'd pair it with a navy, a-line skirt like this one. The Sophia look generally has either a pencil skirt or an a-line (hello, '50s in Italy. Gorge), and I think an a-line skirt is a bit more summery, so that's what I went for here. I like the contrast between the white and the navy, the fitted top and more voluminous skirt--it's all very crisp and pulled together, but not at all stiff. The bow on the skirt draws the eye down to your waist, creating an instant hourglass silhouette. I'd top this off with some black liquid liner and a pair of little gold hoops.
Plenty by Tracy Reese Bustier Dress, $175 at revolveclothing.com, Paloma Barcelo Amaya Wedge Sandals, $295 at net-a-porter.com: If you want a much more modern take on her look, I'd go for this fitted bustier dress in a fun print. It still has the body conscious, lingerie-inspired vibe that Sophia favored, but the black/neon/angry flower print is very of the moment. I really love how the print is so wild and in your face, and the dress is very simple and structured. It's a nice balance. I think this dress would look even better on someone with actual curves than the model here, and $175 is a total steal for something Tracy Reese. With either of these looks, I'd go for an espadrille. These just scream retro Italian film vixen, no? The scarlett adds a nice pop of color, and these manage to walk that line between vintage inspired and modern very nicely. That ankle strap is so '50s, it kills me.
Image Sources:
Sophia Loren: stupidcelebrities.net, premiere.com, greatitalians.com, Anthropologie bustier: anthropologie.com, Forever 21 skirt: forever21.com, Tracy Reese dress: revolveclothing.com, Paloma Barcelo shoes: net-a-porter.com.
Eyelet Corset Top, $58 at anthropologie.com, Forever 21 Belted Linen Skirt, $15.80 at forever21.com: I know I just posted this top, but it was the best bustier/cami I could find for this look. Sophia almost always played up her torso with a bustier-inspired top, and I wanted one that wasn't too over the top or slutty. I like this one because it comes in white eyelet, which is very refreshing and summery, and also balances out the inherent sexiness of the cut. I'd pair it with a navy, a-line skirt like this one. The Sophia look generally has either a pencil skirt or an a-line (hello, '50s in Italy. Gorge), and I think an a-line skirt is a bit more summery, so that's what I went for here. I like the contrast between the white and the navy, the fitted top and more voluminous skirt--it's all very crisp and pulled together, but not at all stiff. The bow on the skirt draws the eye down to your waist, creating an instant hourglass silhouette. I'd top this off with some black liquid liner and a pair of little gold hoops.
Plenty by Tracy Reese Bustier Dress, $175 at revolveclothing.com, Paloma Barcelo Amaya Wedge Sandals, $295 at net-a-porter.com: If you want a much more modern take on her look, I'd go for this fitted bustier dress in a fun print. It still has the body conscious, lingerie-inspired vibe that Sophia favored, but the black/neon/angry flower print is very of the moment. I really love how the print is so wild and in your face, and the dress is very simple and structured. It's a nice balance. I think this dress would look even better on someone with actual curves than the model here, and $175 is a total steal for something Tracy Reese. With either of these looks, I'd go for an espadrille. These just scream retro Italian film vixen, no? The scarlett adds a nice pop of color, and these manage to walk that line between vintage inspired and modern very nicely. That ankle strap is so '50s, it kills me.
Image Sources:
Sophia Loren: stupidcelebrities.net, premiere.com, greatitalians.com, Anthropologie bustier: anthropologie.com, Forever 21 skirt: forever21.com, Tracy Reese dress: revolveclothing.com, Paloma Barcelo shoes: net-a-porter.com.
Review: Make Up For Ever Aqua Black
Alright. So I had minor drama at Sephora the other day (of course this is minor drama for me). They didn't have my Stila smudge pots in black. I KNOW. I was like a deer in the headlights. And then the sales woman recommended this MUFE liner instead and said that it was even better, so of course I had to try it. How intense is that packaging?
MUFE Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow/Liner, $22 for .24 oz at sephora.com. The smudge pots are .14 for $20. You get a LOT more product from MUFE than you do from Stila. My main issue with the Stila towards the end was that it completely dried up and was so hard to use. I love the packaging for this MUFe liner. You see that awkward plastic piece under the lid? It's a little airtight cover to put over the liner while you're using it, between strokes of liner, so it doesn't dry out. GENIUS. As you can tell by all the caps, I'm very enthusiastic about this. So based on the packaging I already loved it, but I really tested it today.
Today I put it on at 7:30 AM, then went to work with my mom, then went running at the gym for about an hour, then went riding outside while it was about 95 degrees, and then came back and sat around. I'd be lying if I didn't say it faded a teensy bit, but it looks almost exactly the same with my eyes open, and only a little smudged with my eyes closed. It's 13 hours later and a ton of heat and sweat and exercise, and it basically looks the same. That is legit waterproof liner. I could probably go swimming in it and it wouldn't budge. I have to say, I think it's even better than my Stila smudge pot, and I was in love with that thing.
Awkward Chic rating: A+. It's really pigmented, easy to apply, waterproof, and a nice deep black. I have literally no complaints.
MUFE Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow/Liner, $22 for .24 oz at sephora.com. The smudge pots are .14 for $20. You get a LOT more product from MUFE than you do from Stila. My main issue with the Stila towards the end was that it completely dried up and was so hard to use. I love the packaging for this MUFe liner. You see that awkward plastic piece under the lid? It's a little airtight cover to put over the liner while you're using it, between strokes of liner, so it doesn't dry out. GENIUS. As you can tell by all the caps, I'm very enthusiastic about this. So based on the packaging I already loved it, but I really tested it today.
Today I put it on at 7:30 AM, then went to work with my mom, then went running at the gym for about an hour, then went riding outside while it was about 95 degrees, and then came back and sat around. I'd be lying if I didn't say it faded a teensy bit, but it looks almost exactly the same with my eyes open, and only a little smudged with my eyes closed. It's 13 hours later and a ton of heat and sweat and exercise, and it basically looks the same. That is legit waterproof liner. I could probably go swimming in it and it wouldn't budge. I have to say, I think it's even better than my Stila smudge pot, and I was in love with that thing.
Awkward Chic rating: A+. It's really pigmented, easy to apply, waterproof, and a nice deep black. I have literally no complaints.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Random Question! Woohoo.
Hey y'all! So I just realized that since the last time I really told you guys anything about myself, about a year ago, the blog has gained a TON of new readers. I thought that for all my newer readers, it might be nice to know a little more about me, which might put my ADD random ramblings/spazziness into perspective. So I found a set of random 25 questions and then a little beauty Would You Rather. Enjoy, and feel free to answer some of the questions yourself in the comments!
Questions!
1. Do you have any pets? My family has always had at least one dog and one horse. At one point I had a bunny, and I think I had a goldfish? Anyways, at the moment there's my dog Sophie (she popped up a few posts ago) and my horse, Adagio (I did NOT choose the name).
2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you. Mmm there's a tub of frozen cookie dough--don't judge me, my TV (watching Anthony Bourdain, love him), and my Blackberry.
3. What's the weather like right now? Hot! So hot! Ugh. California weather seems to have an even shorter attention span than I do.
4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed? I do drive, but I've never crashed. I've run over a curb, but we don't talk about that.
5. What time did you wake up this morning? This morning I got up at 7:30, so early for me, to go to work with my mom and teach her how to use 'the twitter' for her work.
6. When was the last time you showered? I showered last night. I always go to bed with wet bed, it's the easiest way to get great volume.
7. What was the last movie you saw? Hmm. Well I just watched half of BUtterfield 8 and couldn't finish it, so the last full movie I watched was Vanity Fair. So good.
8. What does your last text message say? Something along the lines of how hot it is in Vegas. I know, my life is so interesting.
9. What's your ringtone? My ringtone is The Fear by Lily Allen. And just because I feel like it, here's the music video.
10. Have you ever been to a different country? Yes! I've been to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Japan, England, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland. Oof that's a long list!
11. Do you like sushi? I actually really, really hate sushi. I just can't stomach it for some reason, but I love that pickled ginger they serve with sushi. That doesn't count, does it?
12. Where do you buy your groceries? At Trader Joes! I am a huge, HUGE Trader Joes fan.
13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster? I've had pretty bad insomnia since I was about five (I know, craziness!), so yes, I've taken a whole cocktail of sleeping medications, but the sleepwalking in the morning/total blackout of first two hours of the day kind of turned me off.
14. How many siblings do you have? I have one younger brother. He keeps offering to model for the blog. I'm trying to spare y'all from him. He thinks he's The Situation from the Jersey Shore. If you don't know who that is, it's really worth YouTubing.
15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? I have a little MacBook Pro, and it is my baby.
16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 20! I feel so old. But I just turned 19 a week and a half ago, so it's a ways off.
17. Do you wear contacts or glasses? I wear both. I sunburned my eyes when I was little (I'm so special), so I'm blind as a bat. I wear contacts out and glasses at home.
18. Do you color your hair? I do. I'm naturally a really dirty blonde/really light brunette, and I dye my hair a medium/dark reddish brown. Whenever I tell people that I'm a natural blonde, they look at me like I'm a crazy person. I think people usually go the other way.
19. Tell me something you are planning to do today. Well, it's about 8 PM, so I'm going to watch the Jersey Shore premiere and possibly some more of Gilmore Girls--best show of all time--and go to sleep. I'm a crazy party girl, I know.
20. When was the last time you cried? I'm really not a crier at all. I think there were some happy tears when I got my bday present from my roommate, who lives all the way in New Jersey. It was a fab present, let me tell ya.
21. What is your perfect pizza topping? Mozarella! With some heirloom tomatoes and a little basil. Omnomnom.
22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers? I've been a vegetarian for the last seven years, so a veggie burger I guess. Although I hate veggie burgers. If I don't want to eat real meat, why would I want to eat vegetables masquerading as meat? I just don't get it.
23. Have you ever had an all-nighter? Only twice, and I am a total basket case afterward. I do not do well without sleep AT ALL. Especially now that I've given up caffeine.
24. What is your eye color? My eyes are Hazel, but I like to pretend that they're green. :)
25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? Back when I drank soda I could definitely tell the difference. Coke is better, hands down. But my stomach can't handle all the acid, so not anymore...
Beauty Would You Rather Questions:
1.Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up or Nice hair and no make-up? Messy hair! I actually try to make my hair a little messy, and messy hair is much more forgivable than me without makeup. Oof.
2.Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out? Oh gawd. I think have my lashes fall out, because I feel like they would grow back more quickly. I have actually burned off an eyebrow--long story--and it took forever squared to grow back. And looked insanely awkward.
3.Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life? I think I'm in the minority here, but I'd say MAC. I feel like the products you get at MAC you can't get anywhere else, whereas the products you get at Sephora you can get at Ulta, department stores, etc. The majority of my makeup is from MAC, actually.
4.Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm? There is just no way my face could pull off an '80s perm. I think I'd go with the gloss/liner combo, because it would wear off more quickly and is slightly less noticeable.
5.Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush? Overdone blush. I feel like an obvious foundation line means your foundation color is way off, making you look like Snooki or a vampire, and overdone blush just makes you look sunburned or really embarrassed.
6.Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public? Biker shorts, all the way. Chanel makes biker shorts, I want that pair.
7.Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered? Definitely weird tan lines. I feel like those are somewhat socially acceptable, whereas looking like an Oompa Loompa is not.
8.Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color? Hair color! I've had both, and a bad haircut takes weeks, even months to grow out, but bad color can be fixed in a day.
9.Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever? Twitter, for sure. I'm really not a Twitter person, but I watch YouTube literally all the time. It's so handy for time wasting. :)
10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara? I'm sure I'm in the minority here, because I'd give up mascara. You can also use falsies to create the effect of mascara or smudge liner into the base of your lashes, but blending the perfect smokey eye is impossible without brushes.
Well, that's it guys! I hope you learned a little more about me, if you even made it to the end of this post (I would have probably zoned out at question five). Just for you all that made it all the way here, here's my dog looking silly.
Questions!
1. Do you have any pets? My family has always had at least one dog and one horse. At one point I had a bunny, and I think I had a goldfish? Anyways, at the moment there's my dog Sophie (she popped up a few posts ago) and my horse, Adagio (I did NOT choose the name).
2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you. Mmm there's a tub of frozen cookie dough--don't judge me, my TV (watching Anthony Bourdain, love him), and my Blackberry.
3. What's the weather like right now? Hot! So hot! Ugh. California weather seems to have an even shorter attention span than I do.
4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed? I do drive, but I've never crashed. I've run over a curb, but we don't talk about that.
5. What time did you wake up this morning? This morning I got up at 7:30, so early for me, to go to work with my mom and teach her how to use 'the twitter' for her work.
6. When was the last time you showered? I showered last night. I always go to bed with wet bed, it's the easiest way to get great volume.
7. What was the last movie you saw? Hmm. Well I just watched half of BUtterfield 8 and couldn't finish it, so the last full movie I watched was Vanity Fair. So good.
8. What does your last text message say? Something along the lines of how hot it is in Vegas. I know, my life is so interesting.
9. What's your ringtone? My ringtone is The Fear by Lily Allen. And just because I feel like it, here's the music video.
10. Have you ever been to a different country? Yes! I've been to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Japan, England, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland. Oof that's a long list!
11. Do you like sushi? I actually really, really hate sushi. I just can't stomach it for some reason, but I love that pickled ginger they serve with sushi. That doesn't count, does it?
12. Where do you buy your groceries? At Trader Joes! I am a huge, HUGE Trader Joes fan.
13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster? I've had pretty bad insomnia since I was about five (I know, craziness!), so yes, I've taken a whole cocktail of sleeping medications, but the sleepwalking in the morning/total blackout of first two hours of the day kind of turned me off.
14. How many siblings do you have? I have one younger brother. He keeps offering to model for the blog. I'm trying to spare y'all from him. He thinks he's The Situation from the Jersey Shore. If you don't know who that is, it's really worth YouTubing.
15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? I have a little MacBook Pro, and it is my baby.
16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 20! I feel so old. But I just turned 19 a week and a half ago, so it's a ways off.
17. Do you wear contacts or glasses? I wear both. I sunburned my eyes when I was little (I'm so special), so I'm blind as a bat. I wear contacts out and glasses at home.
18. Do you color your hair? I do. I'm naturally a really dirty blonde/really light brunette, and I dye my hair a medium/dark reddish brown. Whenever I tell people that I'm a natural blonde, they look at me like I'm a crazy person. I think people usually go the other way.
19. Tell me something you are planning to do today. Well, it's about 8 PM, so I'm going to watch the Jersey Shore premiere and possibly some more of Gilmore Girls--best show of all time--and go to sleep. I'm a crazy party girl, I know.
20. When was the last time you cried? I'm really not a crier at all. I think there were some happy tears when I got my bday present from my roommate, who lives all the way in New Jersey. It was a fab present, let me tell ya.
21. What is your perfect pizza topping? Mozarella! With some heirloom tomatoes and a little basil. Omnomnom.
22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers? I've been a vegetarian for the last seven years, so a veggie burger I guess. Although I hate veggie burgers. If I don't want to eat real meat, why would I want to eat vegetables masquerading as meat? I just don't get it.
23. Have you ever had an all-nighter? Only twice, and I am a total basket case afterward. I do not do well without sleep AT ALL. Especially now that I've given up caffeine.
24. What is your eye color? My eyes are Hazel, but I like to pretend that they're green. :)
25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? Back when I drank soda I could definitely tell the difference. Coke is better, hands down. But my stomach can't handle all the acid, so not anymore...
Beauty Would You Rather Questions:
1.Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up or Nice hair and no make-up? Messy hair! I actually try to make my hair a little messy, and messy hair is much more forgivable than me without makeup. Oof.
2.Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out? Oh gawd. I think have my lashes fall out, because I feel like they would grow back more quickly. I have actually burned off an eyebrow--long story--and it took forever squared to grow back. And looked insanely awkward.
3.Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life? I think I'm in the minority here, but I'd say MAC. I feel like the products you get at MAC you can't get anywhere else, whereas the products you get at Sephora you can get at Ulta, department stores, etc. The majority of my makeup is from MAC, actually.
4.Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm? There is just no way my face could pull off an '80s perm. I think I'd go with the gloss/liner combo, because it would wear off more quickly and is slightly less noticeable.
5.Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush? Overdone blush. I feel like an obvious foundation line means your foundation color is way off, making you look like Snooki or a vampire, and overdone blush just makes you look sunburned or really embarrassed.
6.Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public? Biker shorts, all the way. Chanel makes biker shorts, I want that pair.
7.Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered? Definitely weird tan lines. I feel like those are somewhat socially acceptable, whereas looking like an Oompa Loompa is not.
8.Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color? Hair color! I've had both, and a bad haircut takes weeks, even months to grow out, but bad color can be fixed in a day.
9.Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever? Twitter, for sure. I'm really not a Twitter person, but I watch YouTube literally all the time. It's so handy for time wasting. :)
10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara? I'm sure I'm in the minority here, because I'd give up mascara. You can also use falsies to create the effect of mascara or smudge liner into the base of your lashes, but blending the perfect smokey eye is impossible without brushes.
Well, that's it guys! I hope you learned a little more about me, if you even made it to the end of this post (I would have probably zoned out at question five). Just for you all that made it all the way here, here's my dog looking silly.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Currently Listening To: Music from the OC
Maud disagrees with me, but I think the late and great show, the OC, was awesome. Awesome in a ridiculous, cheesy, and over the top way, yes, but still awesome.
And the awesomest (I'm have a '90s moment, bear with me) part about it: the music. Which, incidentally, was picked by my old neighbor, who also does the music for Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and the Twilight Series. I KNOW. Of course, she's moved to a much nicer neighborhood now, but when she lived here I got all the soundtracks like months ahead of when they were released. Sigh. The OC had a great mix of upcoming and relatively unknown bands with a mellow, beachy vibe, and I found one of my old CDs in my room and can't stop listening. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy :)
And the awesomest (I'm have a '90s moment, bear with me) part about it: the music. Which, incidentally, was picked by my old neighbor, who also does the music for Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and the Twilight Series. I KNOW. Of course, she's moved to a much nicer neighborhood now, but when she lived here I got all the soundtracks like months ahead of when they were released. Sigh. The OC had a great mix of upcoming and relatively unknown bands with a mellow, beachy vibe, and I found one of my old CDs in my room and can't stop listening. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy :)
Do Want
Hello and welcome back to another episode of things Megan wants today. She may even buy one of them--oh, the insanity!
Mason by Michelle Mason Open Shoulder Dress, $320 at shopbop.com, DVF Garbo Day Bag, $625 at shopbop.com: I've had this dress bookmarked for almost a week now. That's love. I think my favorite part about it is the sleeve construction. That sort of sleeve is perfect, because it shows skin and highlights your shoulders in a really flattering way BUT it totally hides any tricep naughtiness that may be going on, instantly making your arms look fabulous and Michelle Obama-like. Add that to the loose, but not oversized cut and the sexy cutouts in the back, and you have the makings of a totally flattering, casually hot LBD. All it needs is a little waist-cinching belt, maybe one with a bit of sparkle, and you're good to go. In all honesty, I never thought I'd fall for a zebra/wood-grain print bag. I'm all about basics! Not $600 animal print accessories (actually that's a total lie). But this bag is just so charming. I love how the neutral color palette balances out the fact that it is in fact zebra print, and how the beading at the edges adds just a hint of rock and roll glam, and how the classic, boxy satchel shape counteracts all of that to make it a really practical, wearable piece. If you're looking for a fun bag that you can really wear all the time, this is your guy/purse/thing. Oh, words. How you fail me sometimes.
BCBG Print One Shoulder Dress, $348 at shopbop.com, Delia's Triangle Halter One-Piece, $29.50 at delias.com: The cut of this BCBG dress really reminds me of the Resort 2010 Lanvin dresses, with the drapey silhouettes and one-shoulder sleeves. Obviously, this version is significantly more affordable, and it comes in a fun, festive print with little ruffles! So cute. The really great thing about this sort of cut is that it manages to accentuate your curves without hugging them too tightly, and basically makes your body look fab. Now, as for the thing I actually ended up buying, yes, it's from Delias. I feel like a 13 year old right now. The thing is, I'm going to Hawaii with my mom in a few weeks, and I literally own 0 complete swimsuits. I have half of one and half of another, and no, sadly, they really don't go together. I really never go to the beach or even go swimming, so I don't want to spend a lot of money on a swimsuit, but I don't want an ugly one, and I really wanted a one piece. I like this version because it comes in black (black and navy are my go to beach colors, yes, I am that boring), in long and regular torso sizes, and it has ties at the hips! The problem for me with one pieces is that they are made for people with normal hips, not wide Megan hips, and even if I lost 30 pounds, they would still cut into my thighs. This suit is at least mildly adjustable for minimal thigh-mutilating, and is the perfect canvas for all the ridiculous beach accessories I plan to throw on top of it. Win-win!
Image Sources:
Mason dress: shopbop.com, DVF bag: shopbop.com, BCBG dress: shopbop.com, Delia's swimsuit: delias.com.
Mason by Michelle Mason Open Shoulder Dress, $320 at shopbop.com, DVF Garbo Day Bag, $625 at shopbop.com: I've had this dress bookmarked for almost a week now. That's love. I think my favorite part about it is the sleeve construction. That sort of sleeve is perfect, because it shows skin and highlights your shoulders in a really flattering way BUT it totally hides any tricep naughtiness that may be going on, instantly making your arms look fabulous and Michelle Obama-like. Add that to the loose, but not oversized cut and the sexy cutouts in the back, and you have the makings of a totally flattering, casually hot LBD. All it needs is a little waist-cinching belt, maybe one with a bit of sparkle, and you're good to go. In all honesty, I never thought I'd fall for a zebra/wood-grain print bag. I'm all about basics! Not $600 animal print accessories (actually that's a total lie). But this bag is just so charming. I love how the neutral color palette balances out the fact that it is in fact zebra print, and how the beading at the edges adds just a hint of rock and roll glam, and how the classic, boxy satchel shape counteracts all of that to make it a really practical, wearable piece. If you're looking for a fun bag that you can really wear all the time, this is your guy/purse/thing. Oh, words. How you fail me sometimes.
BCBG Print One Shoulder Dress, $348 at shopbop.com, Delia's Triangle Halter One-Piece, $29.50 at delias.com: The cut of this BCBG dress really reminds me of the Resort 2010 Lanvin dresses, with the drapey silhouettes and one-shoulder sleeves. Obviously, this version is significantly more affordable, and it comes in a fun, festive print with little ruffles! So cute. The really great thing about this sort of cut is that it manages to accentuate your curves without hugging them too tightly, and basically makes your body look fab. Now, as for the thing I actually ended up buying, yes, it's from Delias. I feel like a 13 year old right now. The thing is, I'm going to Hawaii with my mom in a few weeks, and I literally own 0 complete swimsuits. I have half of one and half of another, and no, sadly, they really don't go together. I really never go to the beach or even go swimming, so I don't want to spend a lot of money on a swimsuit, but I don't want an ugly one, and I really wanted a one piece. I like this version because it comes in black (black and navy are my go to beach colors, yes, I am that boring), in long and regular torso sizes, and it has ties at the hips! The problem for me with one pieces is that they are made for people with normal hips, not wide Megan hips, and even if I lost 30 pounds, they would still cut into my thighs. This suit is at least mildly adjustable for minimal thigh-mutilating, and is the perfect canvas for all the ridiculous beach accessories I plan to throw on top of it. Win-win!
Image Sources:
Mason dress: shopbop.com, DVF bag: shopbop.com, BCBG dress: shopbop.com, Delia's swimsuit: delias.com.
Review: MUFE Aqua Eyes Liner
I finally did it, guys. I broke up with Urban Decay for good (really for now, but still). That's right. I've switched eyeliners (cue dramatic music). I finally gave up on my Urban Decay Zero liner because, frankly, it sucks. There, I said it. For the last few days I've been using gel liner on my waterline, which works, but takes a lot more effort than a pencil liner.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner in 0L, $17 at sephora.com: And then I met Aqua Eyes. When MUFE says waterproof, they mean it. It's the exact same size and price as the Urban Decay 24/7 liners, but it's a heck of a lot better. I got the 0L, which is a matte black.
Please forgive the sad pictures, but I can't emphasize enough that this is a really nicely pigmented, deep black. The pencil is a little firmer than the Urban Decay liners, which makes it a bit easier to apply. My main issue with the Urban Decay liners was that while they went on nicely and looked pretty for the first hour, after that they start melting away faster than a glacier in Texas. When you have to reapply liner three times a day, it gets a little annoying. This MUFE liner applies like a dream, very smoothly with no dragging, and it does. not. budge. That swatch on my hand--I've rubbed at it for the last minute, and it looks the exact same. No exaggeration there, it is on LOCKDOWN. Of course, it's a different story on the waterline, but even there it lasts me all day with minimal fading, as in I can actually see it on my waterline still at the end of the day. Success! I've only tried the black, but MUFE has a wide range of really love colors, including a gorgeous champagne that I have my eye on.
Awkward Chic Rating: A+. It applies easily, lasts pretty much all day, is decently affordable, and could only be awesomer if it came with a pony.
PS: I also picked up the MUFE Cream Liner in black, and will be reviewing that tomorrow. Woohoo!
Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner in 0L, $17 at sephora.com: And then I met Aqua Eyes. When MUFE says waterproof, they mean it. It's the exact same size and price as the Urban Decay 24/7 liners, but it's a heck of a lot better. I got the 0L, which is a matte black.
Please forgive the sad pictures, but I can't emphasize enough that this is a really nicely pigmented, deep black. The pencil is a little firmer than the Urban Decay liners, which makes it a bit easier to apply. My main issue with the Urban Decay liners was that while they went on nicely and looked pretty for the first hour, after that they start melting away faster than a glacier in Texas. When you have to reapply liner three times a day, it gets a little annoying. This MUFE liner applies like a dream, very smoothly with no dragging, and it does. not. budge. That swatch on my hand--I've rubbed at it for the last minute, and it looks the exact same. No exaggeration there, it is on LOCKDOWN. Of course, it's a different story on the waterline, but even there it lasts me all day with minimal fading, as in I can actually see it on my waterline still at the end of the day. Success! I've only tried the black, but MUFE has a wide range of really love colors, including a gorgeous champagne that I have my eye on.
Awkward Chic Rating: A+. It applies easily, lasts pretty much all day, is decently affordable, and could only be awesomer if it came with a pony.
PS: I also picked up the MUFE Cream Liner in black, and will be reviewing that tomorrow. Woohoo!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Review: MAC Carbon
I bought this a few days ago and totally forgot to review it. Whoops! It's MAC's Carbon shadow, which is a black matte shadow from their permanent line, and it's $14.50 on the MAC website.
Sorry for the smudge, I'm a little messy.
So, the polish. As y'all can see, it's not crazy pigmented. It's not the least pigmented MAC shadow I've had, but it's definitely not as good as my other mattes, like Wedge. I think that's my biggest negative about this shadow. On the plus side, it really is a jet black, and the lasting power is good, very standard MAC. I've been using it on my lower lash line (I usually do gel liner on the upper lash line and lower waterline, and then I smudge some of Carbon on the lower lash line to balance it all out). It blends fairly easily, but it does tend to turn gray when you blend it out, which does make sense technically, but can be a little annoying. Overall, though, I really like it. I needed a black shadow, this does the job, and I think it'll really add punch to my smokey eyes. I feel like when you layer on brown to get a smokey effect, it can really make you just look tired, whereas with black you need much less shadow for much more impact.
Awkward Chic rating: B+. Some points taken off for the low pigmentation, but overall it's a solid product.
Sorry for the smudge, I'm a little messy.
So, the polish. As y'all can see, it's not crazy pigmented. It's not the least pigmented MAC shadow I've had, but it's definitely not as good as my other mattes, like Wedge. I think that's my biggest negative about this shadow. On the plus side, it really is a jet black, and the lasting power is good, very standard MAC. I've been using it on my lower lash line (I usually do gel liner on the upper lash line and lower waterline, and then I smudge some of Carbon on the lower lash line to balance it all out). It blends fairly easily, but it does tend to turn gray when you blend it out, which does make sense technically, but can be a little annoying. Overall, though, I really like it. I needed a black shadow, this does the job, and I think it'll really add punch to my smokey eyes. I feel like when you layer on brown to get a smokey effect, it can really make you just look tired, whereas with black you need much less shadow for much more impact.
Awkward Chic rating: B+. Some points taken off for the low pigmentation, but overall it's a solid product.
Update: LUSH New! Solid Shampoo
Alright y'all, I've been using this LUSH New! shampoo for just over a month now, and I though I'd do a little update on how it's been going.
LUSH New! Shampoo is $9.95 at lushusa.com. So this little hockey puck has shrunk to about half its size. Doesn't it look awkward? It would be significantly larger if I wasn't a complete space case and didn't leave it out in a running shower for it to dissolve away down the drain. Boo. So factoring that in, I'd say that this bar could last you between 3 and 4 months, depending on how much hair you have and how well you store it. Storage is a bit of a problem. After you use it, it's wet. But if you leave it on a porous surface, that surface will absorb some of the product. You have to leave it on a hard surface for it to completely dry out before you store it.
As for how the shampoo is actually doing, um, I LOVE IT. I've never had strong feelings about shampoo. It's just always kind of meh, gets the job done without being all that interesting. Well, this shampoo may just be my soul mate. I can even forgive the Big Red cinnamon smell, which doesn't linger on my hair at all. With all other shampoos I've used, they've made my hair color fade and either not removed all of my buildup and left my hair greasy at the end of the day, or totally dried my hair out. New manages to remove any product buildup, keep my hair clean all day, and make it soft and happy, not fried or unhappy at all. This picture was taken at the end of a hot day about a month and a week after I dyed my hair last. My hair color hasn't faded, and my hair looks so clean and happy! Just look how nice and shiny it is.
So, the verdict: New! isn't cheap. But a bottle of $4/$5 shampoo usually lasts me a month, and so I think that New may end up being cheaper in the end, and it makes my hair look better, AND it's totally airplane safe. I think this one's a winner, ladies.
LUSH New! Shampoo is $9.95 at lushusa.com. So this little hockey puck has shrunk to about half its size. Doesn't it look awkward? It would be significantly larger if I wasn't a complete space case and didn't leave it out in a running shower for it to dissolve away down the drain. Boo. So factoring that in, I'd say that this bar could last you between 3 and 4 months, depending on how much hair you have and how well you store it. Storage is a bit of a problem. After you use it, it's wet. But if you leave it on a porous surface, that surface will absorb some of the product. You have to leave it on a hard surface for it to completely dry out before you store it.
As for how the shampoo is actually doing, um, I LOVE IT. I've never had strong feelings about shampoo. It's just always kind of meh, gets the job done without being all that interesting. Well, this shampoo may just be my soul mate. I can even forgive the Big Red cinnamon smell, which doesn't linger on my hair at all. With all other shampoos I've used, they've made my hair color fade and either not removed all of my buildup and left my hair greasy at the end of the day, or totally dried my hair out. New manages to remove any product buildup, keep my hair clean all day, and make it soft and happy, not fried or unhappy at all. This picture was taken at the end of a hot day about a month and a week after I dyed my hair last. My hair color hasn't faded, and my hair looks so clean and happy! Just look how nice and shiny it is.
So, the verdict: New! isn't cheap. But a bottle of $4/$5 shampoo usually lasts me a month, and so I think that New may end up being cheaper in the end, and it makes my hair look better, AND it's totally airplane safe. I think this one's a winner, ladies.
Loving the London Look
When it comes to makeup, there are certain things I'm willing to go way out of the way for, like all things MAC or OPI polish or my Stila Smudge Pots. But there are also some things that I think you can afford to go drugstore on, like brow pencils.
Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil, $22 at sephora.com: For the last two years, I've used this Anastasia brow pencil in Ash Brown, which is a neutral medium brown. It's a nice pencil, a little on the waxy side, which helps keep hairs in place but also means that the pencil is so soft it's impossible to keep it sharp and get a thin line. My main issue with this pencil is that while it looks really natural, it always, always faded by lunchtime, sometimes even earlier if I went to the gym or it was hot out. For $22, that's not acceptable.
Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil, $3.19 at ulta.com: So I decided to go a different route for my next brow pencil, and after much research (on Makeupalley, of course), I settled on this Rimmel brow pencil. First off, the price and Target/CVS availability? Amazing! It's the same size as the Anastasia pencil (minus the brush on the end of that one), and like six times cheaper. And you know what? It's actually better. Yeah. The Anastasia pencil has a nicer brush, but the Rimmel pencil is much firmer, with the perfect blend of pigment and wax. It's easy to draw thin lines and fill in all the tiny spaces in your brows, and the slightly waxiness helps tame unruly brows. Plus, this pencil lasted all day in 100 degree weather and through an intense workout. That's impressive. The only downside to this pencil is that it comes in really limited shades: black, hazel, and dark brown, which I got. The swatch below is a little cool, but dark brown is a warm medium brown, black is black, and hazel is basically orange. So unless you have brown or black hair, this may not be the best product for you. However, if you do have darker hair and you're looking for a brow pencil that has hold and the ability to create fine, natural looking lines, this is an absolute must. Or if you're like me and just automatically love all things British.
Overall rating: A-. I'd give it an A+, but that awkward brow brush and limited color range hold it back a bit.
Image Source:
Anastasia pencil: sephora.com.
Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil, $22 at sephora.com: For the last two years, I've used this Anastasia brow pencil in Ash Brown, which is a neutral medium brown. It's a nice pencil, a little on the waxy side, which helps keep hairs in place but also means that the pencil is so soft it's impossible to keep it sharp and get a thin line. My main issue with this pencil is that while it looks really natural, it always, always faded by lunchtime, sometimes even earlier if I went to the gym or it was hot out. For $22, that's not acceptable.
Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil, $3.19 at ulta.com: So I decided to go a different route for my next brow pencil, and after much research (on Makeupalley, of course), I settled on this Rimmel brow pencil. First off, the price and Target/CVS availability? Amazing! It's the same size as the Anastasia pencil (minus the brush on the end of that one), and like six times cheaper. And you know what? It's actually better. Yeah. The Anastasia pencil has a nicer brush, but the Rimmel pencil is much firmer, with the perfect blend of pigment and wax. It's easy to draw thin lines and fill in all the tiny spaces in your brows, and the slightly waxiness helps tame unruly brows. Plus, this pencil lasted all day in 100 degree weather and through an intense workout. That's impressive. The only downside to this pencil is that it comes in really limited shades: black, hazel, and dark brown, which I got. The swatch below is a little cool, but dark brown is a warm medium brown, black is black, and hazel is basically orange. So unless you have brown or black hair, this may not be the best product for you. However, if you do have darker hair and you're looking for a brow pencil that has hold and the ability to create fine, natural looking lines, this is an absolute must. Or if you're like me and just automatically love all things British.
Overall rating: A-. I'd give it an A+, but that awkward brow brush and limited color range hold it back a bit.
Image Source:
Anastasia pencil: sephora.com.
Today's Cravings
Mondays are always dangerous days. I mean, new Net-A-Porter stock? Kill me now. And combining that with a new slew of J. Crew inventory is the fashion equivalent of a heart attack for me.
J. Crew Silk Chiffon Arabelle Dress, $225 at jcrew.com: How gorgeous is that color??? I think it's called Spiced Wine, which makes more sense than lovely-jewel-toned-plummy-cranberry-goodness. Of course, it also comes in more neutral hues, like black and navy. What I really love about this is the cut. The top is very structured and slightly bustier-inspired, and it flows down into this loose, Grecian style skirt for a very flattering study in contrasts. This could possibly be the best bridesmaid dress ever--it will flatter everyone and comes in a wide range of colors! Win-win.
Tulipe Bustier Gown, $1,800 at jcrew.com: I realize that because I'm 19 this probably comes off as really, really odd, but if I got married tomorrow it would be in this dress. Not that I think about these things or have a file of wedding dresses on my computer. Because that would be weird. I've never been one for satin wedding dresses with pick-ups and beading. Give me chiffon, an a-line skirt and a sweetheart neckline, and I'm sold. This dress is perfect. The bustier top adds a little bit of sex appeal, which is balanced out by the full skirt (which would move so beautifully!). I'd add a thin little crystal band around the waist to punch it up a bit and up the fairy princess factor.
Fendi Gothic Romans Suede Lace-up Boots, $860 at net-a-porter.com: On a totally different note, I've always disliked oxfords and booties. I feel like they shorten the leg and I'm not a fan of boyish shoes. But these Fendis...oof. For some reason, I'm totally sold. It might be the 5.5 inch heel, it might be the combination of suede and leather, it might be that giant platform, but these somehow manage to be exceedingly girly while playing off the menswear trend. These with a little sundress? I die.
Image Sources:
J. Crew dresses: jcrew.com, jcrew.com, Fendi heels: net-a-porter.com.
J. Crew Silk Chiffon Arabelle Dress, $225 at jcrew.com: How gorgeous is that color??? I think it's called Spiced Wine, which makes more sense than lovely-jewel-toned-plummy-cranberry-goodness. Of course, it also comes in more neutral hues, like black and navy. What I really love about this is the cut. The top is very structured and slightly bustier-inspired, and it flows down into this loose, Grecian style skirt for a very flattering study in contrasts. This could possibly be the best bridesmaid dress ever--it will flatter everyone and comes in a wide range of colors! Win-win.
Tulipe Bustier Gown, $1,800 at jcrew.com: I realize that because I'm 19 this probably comes off as really, really odd, but if I got married tomorrow it would be in this dress. Not that I think about these things or have a file of wedding dresses on my computer. Because that would be weird. I've never been one for satin wedding dresses with pick-ups and beading. Give me chiffon, an a-line skirt and a sweetheart neckline, and I'm sold. This dress is perfect. The bustier top adds a little bit of sex appeal, which is balanced out by the full skirt (which would move so beautifully!). I'd add a thin little crystal band around the waist to punch it up a bit and up the fairy princess factor.
Fendi Gothic Romans Suede Lace-up Boots, $860 at net-a-porter.com: On a totally different note, I've always disliked oxfords and booties. I feel like they shorten the leg and I'm not a fan of boyish shoes. But these Fendis...oof. For some reason, I'm totally sold. It might be the 5.5 inch heel, it might be the combination of suede and leather, it might be that giant platform, but these somehow manage to be exceedingly girly while playing off the menswear trend. These with a little sundress? I die.
Image Sources:
J. Crew dresses: jcrew.com, jcrew.com, Fendi heels: net-a-porter.com.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Shampoo Commercial Hair?
I have a love-hate relationship with Target. Sometimes I walk in and the selection is fantastic and I want ten different things, and sometimes, like this weekend, I walk in and find that the selection is crap. There were no hair serums to be found! Not even the Organix coconut milk one I've used for the past two years that's always there. So I wandered around for literally fifteen minutes, and finally walked out with the following:
This Pantene Straighten & Smooth Creme is $3.49 for just over 5 ounces at target.com. I was looking for something to replace my current Organix serum + Bumble & Bumble Brilliantine combo, which is great, but when Brilliantine is $20 for a 3 ounce bottle, it's not the most affordable habit. I needed something that would moisturize my hair, mainly because I wash every day and flat iron the heck out of it. Sorry for the awkward finger picture, but since the bottle is opaque I figured it might be helpful. It has the consistency of a slightly thin lotion, and smells vaguely perfumey and floral, in a very nice way.
As for how it works, I get a pump's worth, about a nickle sized dollop, in my palm and then run in through the bottom half of my hair while it's still wet, and brush it out. It doesn't feel greasy at all, just very moisturizing. I've been trying it for the last few days, and I totally love it. My hair is soft and shiny and happy, and while it's no miracle, for $3.50 it's pretty darn good. It even works better than the almost $30 combo of products I was using before! Wooho. I think that bottle will last me 3-4 months, which is good for the price.
Overall, I'd give this an A-, and I'm totally happy settling for that at the moment. Next on my list: the heat protector spray from this same line. (PS: the revamped Pantene has separate lines for curly, thin, and thick hair. This is the styling creme for thick hair).
Oh, and my dog wants to say hi. Sophie likes to sit on the top of the sofa and make funny faces at me. She just got a haircut, so she looks exceptionally silly. And yes, she sits up like that all by herself. I couldn't have arranged that if I tried.
This Pantene Straighten & Smooth Creme is $3.49 for just over 5 ounces at target.com. I was looking for something to replace my current Organix serum + Bumble & Bumble Brilliantine combo, which is great, but when Brilliantine is $20 for a 3 ounce bottle, it's not the most affordable habit. I needed something that would moisturize my hair, mainly because I wash every day and flat iron the heck out of it. Sorry for the awkward finger picture, but since the bottle is opaque I figured it might be helpful. It has the consistency of a slightly thin lotion, and smells vaguely perfumey and floral, in a very nice way.
As for how it works, I get a pump's worth, about a nickle sized dollop, in my palm and then run in through the bottom half of my hair while it's still wet, and brush it out. It doesn't feel greasy at all, just very moisturizing. I've been trying it for the last few days, and I totally love it. My hair is soft and shiny and happy, and while it's no miracle, for $3.50 it's pretty darn good. It even works better than the almost $30 combo of products I was using before! Wooho. I think that bottle will last me 3-4 months, which is good for the price.
Overall, I'd give this an A-, and I'm totally happy settling for that at the moment. Next on my list: the heat protector spray from this same line. (PS: the revamped Pantene has separate lines for curly, thin, and thick hair. This is the styling creme for thick hair).
Oh, and my dog wants to say hi. Sophie likes to sit on the top of the sofa and make funny faces at me. She just got a haircut, so she looks exceptionally silly. And yes, she sits up like that all by herself. I couldn't have arranged that if I tried.
I've Got the Blues
Nail polish porn for the next few days is limited to this post, I promise.
This is how well my new Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat wore after FIVE days. Five! It's still shiny, there were no chips or smudges or any fading, and there was only minimal tip wear. I couldn't even really justify re-doing my nails, but I did. This stuff wears even better than my Seche Vite top coat, and it's a couple dollars cheaper. That's a winner. Also, Essie's Splash of Grenadine is just as cute on toes as it is on fingers! This is my unexpected new favorite polish.
I had to do my nails in Essie's Midnight Cami, just to see it on the nail so I could compare it to OPI's Russian Navy. As happens to me with all my dark polishes, a lot of the shimmer is lost between the bottle and the nail. This can look black inside with bad lighting. It's definitely much more vibrant than Russian Navy, and has much more shimmer.
This picture sucks, but it shows some of the shimmer. I did this after the sun set, so I don't know how it looks in sunlight, but I'm hoping it's as shimmertastic as I want it to be! Note Gilmore Girls playing in the background.
This is how well my new Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat wore after FIVE days. Five! It's still shiny, there were no chips or smudges or any fading, and there was only minimal tip wear. I couldn't even really justify re-doing my nails, but I did. This stuff wears even better than my Seche Vite top coat, and it's a couple dollars cheaper. That's a winner. Also, Essie's Splash of Grenadine is just as cute on toes as it is on fingers! This is my unexpected new favorite polish.
I had to do my nails in Essie's Midnight Cami, just to see it on the nail so I could compare it to OPI's Russian Navy. As happens to me with all my dark polishes, a lot of the shimmer is lost between the bottle and the nail. This can look black inside with bad lighting. It's definitely much more vibrant than Russian Navy, and has much more shimmer.
This picture sucks, but it shows some of the shimmer. I did this after the sun set, so I don't know how it looks in sunlight, but I'm hoping it's as shimmertastic as I want it to be! Note Gilmore Girls playing in the background.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Tom Cruise/Sunglasses Paradox
Confession: I'm an English history nerd. I've been all up in the Tudors, I've watched all the Anne Boleyn movies and read all the books (highly, highly recommend Wolf Hall), and all that jazz. So when Rescue Beauty Lounge put out a collection inspired by some of Henry VIII's wives, I was all over it.
There are great swatches over at All Lacquered Up, and my absolute favorite is Anne (duh). It's a grey olive green with gold and pink shimmer. Pink! It adds such an interesting dimension to the green base. It's a little off, but in all the right ways, very spunky and almost ferocious, just like Anne. You can get it for $18 at rescuebeauty.com, when it goes on pre-sale soon (the dates were uncertain). I know $18 is a LOT, but it's such an interesting, off-beat color, and RBL polishes are nasty chemical free.
In totally unrelated news, I got a pair of Ray Ban aviators! And since I had to buy them myself, I got them off eBay (shocker). I found them for about $95, and they go for about $139 on Shopbop. $45 is like three MAC shadows, so woohoo! Haha. The only thing that I'd say to watch out for on eBay is that, as always, if it looks way too good to be true, it probably is. I saw a ton of these sunglasses with buy it now prices of $30. That's even less than their wholesale price. It makes no sense. I sincerely doubt that they are real. I bought a pair of Wayfarers on eBay for a great price three or four years ago, and while I do think they're real, I think they're factory rejects. One of the arms is wonky/on the verge of falling off literally all the time. Gah. This pair, however, is real and in perfect shape. And now, for the sake of the blog, I present the terribly awkward picture of me trying to make a serious face while taking a picture of myself in the mirror at midnight. If you can't tell, I'm struggling.
Yeah, I look like a fool, but I really like them. I'm very used to over-sized sunnies, and was THIS close to getting the oversized Wayfarers, but they just look silly on my face. My thing is that if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a pair of sunnies, they need to be a good pair of sunnies that actually looks good on my face. And just look at how long my hair is! Success.
Also, I just realized that all my nice pairs of sunglasses have become famous through Tom Cruise wearing them in '80s/90s films. See Risky Business and Top Gun.
Maybe Scientology is the next step. Ooooh. Maybe not.
Image Sources:
RBL polish: alllacqueredup.com, Tom Cruise: dialogosuniversitarios.com, dappered.com.
There are great swatches over at All Lacquered Up, and my absolute favorite is Anne (duh). It's a grey olive green with gold and pink shimmer. Pink! It adds such an interesting dimension to the green base. It's a little off, but in all the right ways, very spunky and almost ferocious, just like Anne. You can get it for $18 at rescuebeauty.com, when it goes on pre-sale soon (the dates were uncertain). I know $18 is a LOT, but it's such an interesting, off-beat color, and RBL polishes are nasty chemical free.
In totally unrelated news, I got a pair of Ray Ban aviators! And since I had to buy them myself, I got them off eBay (shocker). I found them for about $95, and they go for about $139 on Shopbop. $45 is like three MAC shadows, so woohoo! Haha. The only thing that I'd say to watch out for on eBay is that, as always, if it looks way too good to be true, it probably is. I saw a ton of these sunglasses with buy it now prices of $30. That's even less than their wholesale price. It makes no sense. I sincerely doubt that they are real. I bought a pair of Wayfarers on eBay for a great price three or four years ago, and while I do think they're real, I think they're factory rejects. One of the arms is wonky/on the verge of falling off literally all the time. Gah. This pair, however, is real and in perfect shape. And now, for the sake of the blog, I present the terribly awkward picture of me trying to make a serious face while taking a picture of myself in the mirror at midnight. If you can't tell, I'm struggling.
Yeah, I look like a fool, but I really like them. I'm very used to over-sized sunnies, and was THIS close to getting the oversized Wayfarers, but they just look silly on my face. My thing is that if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a pair of sunnies, they need to be a good pair of sunnies that actually looks good on my face. And just look at how long my hair is! Success.
Also, I just realized that all my nice pairs of sunglasses have become famous through Tom Cruise wearing them in '80s/90s films. See Risky Business and Top Gun.
Maybe Scientology is the next step. Ooooh. Maybe not.
Image Sources:
RBL polish: alllacqueredup.com, Tom Cruise: dialogosuniversitarios.com, dappered.com.
Today's Beauty Cravings
It's FRIDAY! And you know that what means? Random pretty things to get y'all into the weekend! Woohoo!
Fresh EDPs: Eat, $32 at fresh.com, Love, $32 at fresh.com, Pray, $32 at fresh.com: This collection of scents from Fresh is inspired by the book/movie starring Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love. I haven't read said book, but it looks cute and I like the concept. Eat is inspired by Italy, Love is inspired by Bali, and Pray is inspired by India. Eat has notes of lemon, basil, bergamot, plum, red currant, rose, caramel, vanilla, and meringue. Love has notes of bergamot, red currant, mango blossom, Tiare, lisylang, dewy jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, and velvet amber. Pray has notes of elemi, pink pepper, incense, juniper berry, peony, rose, patchouli, amber, and musk. So basically Eat is foody, Love is tropical, and Pray is musky/incensey. I really like the sound of Pray! I mean, peony, amber, musk, and roses? Hello, there beautiful.
Aquolina Getaway Set, $58 at sephora.com: First off, how cute is this bag? I love getting free tote bags with beauty purchases. It's totally the best part. I've never been a huge fan of Aquolina's Pink Sugar as a perfume all in itself, but in a lotion or some other, less strong form, it's very pleasant. This set has Shower Gel, Body Mousse, Shower Mousse (what is that??), Hair Perfume Spray (sounds awesome), Deodorant Spray, and Body Spritzer. This is the perfect gift for any beauty addict who likes all their scents to be coordinated or if you just feel like spoiling yourself.
Image Sources:
fresh.com, sephora.com.
Fresh EDPs: Eat, $32 at fresh.com, Love, $32 at fresh.com, Pray, $32 at fresh.com: This collection of scents from Fresh is inspired by the book/movie starring Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love. I haven't read said book, but it looks cute and I like the concept. Eat is inspired by Italy, Love is inspired by Bali, and Pray is inspired by India. Eat has notes of lemon, basil, bergamot, plum, red currant, rose, caramel, vanilla, and meringue. Love has notes of bergamot, red currant, mango blossom, Tiare, lisylang, dewy jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, and velvet amber. Pray has notes of elemi, pink pepper, incense, juniper berry, peony, rose, patchouli, amber, and musk. So basically Eat is foody, Love is tropical, and Pray is musky/incensey. I really like the sound of Pray! I mean, peony, amber, musk, and roses? Hello, there beautiful.
Aquolina Getaway Set, $58 at sephora.com: First off, how cute is this bag? I love getting free tote bags with beauty purchases. It's totally the best part. I've never been a huge fan of Aquolina's Pink Sugar as a perfume all in itself, but in a lotion or some other, less strong form, it's very pleasant. This set has Shower Gel, Body Mousse, Shower Mousse (what is that??), Hair Perfume Spray (sounds awesome), Deodorant Spray, and Body Spritzer. This is the perfect gift for any beauty addict who likes all their scents to be coordinated or if you just feel like spoiling yourself.
Image Sources:
fresh.com, sephora.com.
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