skinDEEP

ROSY CHEEKS FOR WINTER

I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t really a huge blush girl throughout life. I think it’s because I never thought I would find a color that would really make my cheeks pop (being that I have tan skin). Once I started contouring my face, I realized the importance of blush in the process. This is when I discovered Clinique’s Blushwear Cream Stick. Here’s what I love:

• Texture: I harp on this all the time, but I have dry skin, so any creamy product works great on me. 
• Easy Applicator: The fact that it is in stick form makes it perfect to apply the perfect line across your cheek for blending
• Color: I found that 03 Rosy Blush works perfect with my skin tone. 

Winter is a great time to discover the perfect blush. Your cheeks are already looking rosy, so you might as well even out your skin by throwing on a color that goes well with your skin type. If you’re wondering where the blush should be applied on your cheeks, check out my blog post on contouring your face here. 

Do YOU use blush?  If so, what’s YOUR favorite?

VALENTINE’S DAY CRUSHES <3

Valentines day is around the corner! I have some product suggestions you’re going to love that are fun, flirty, and fit the spirit of the holiday. For those of you still on the hunt for a crush, you came to the right place. For those of you who already have crushes, what’s a few more?  Here are three products to crush on this Valentine’s Day: 

FUN: Big Sexy Hair Spray

Valentine’s Day is all about having fun/being confident and so is Big Sexy Hair Spray. It really helps boost your roots to give you lasting volume for a big date or a night out with your girls. Have some fun this Valentine’s Day, and let your hair down (literally and metaphorically speaking) with a product that add just the right pop to your hair! 

FLIRTY: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

I may have strained away from Juicy in my closet (RIP Juicy Velour Track suit-we had a good run), but it will always have a place in my bathroom as my go-to fragrance. Juicy Couture’s Viva la Juicy is a year round favorite of mine, BUT specifically for those of you on a man hunt this Valentine’s Day, get this product! There’s something about Viva la Juicy that makes guy’s go crazy. What I really love about the scent is that it’s not TOO strong but potent enough to grab someone’s attention. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Next time you’re at Sephora or a department store, spray it on your skin and clothes. You may end up finding your next signature scent!

FIT: Benefit Benetint

There’s no other product more fit for Vday than Benefit’s Benetint. I’ve been a fan of this product for years. Not only can you use it to add a rosy glow to your cheekbones, but it has dual purpose as a lip stain. What’s so great about this? It’s water, and might I add, kiss proof (you’re welcome to all the boys out there)! One tip to note about this product is that being that it is a stain, you need to react to it quickly once applying. Dab it on the desired part of your face and blend. This product is great for those of you who want to add a small tint of color to your face without going overboard!

I hope you crush on these products as much as I do! Happy Valentine’s Day <3

What are YOUR Valentine’s Day plans?

GLITZ & GLAM AT THE GLOBES

Award show season has finally begun! It’s time for the stars to bring their A game for the red carpet. Honestly, who really cares about the actual award show? My favorite part is watching the pre-show and seeing what stars are wearing and who they are with. If you follow my tweets (couldn’t stop tweeting during the show!), you would know that I had some pretty strong opinions on the stars choices of the night. 

Some not so favs:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar: I’m not down for that fluffy/swirly prom dress look.
• Emma Stone: I know people loved it but eh…
• Freida Pinto: The hair, the makeup, and even the Prada (yes, I said it!) wasn’t impressive. Seriously, I really really want to root for her, but she makes it so hard sometimes. I’m waiting for the day she wow’s me on the red carpet!

Some favs:

• Paula Patton: I loved the yellow on her skin, but I think I just love HER so anything she wears is automatically perfect.
• Sofia Vergara: Vera+ Sofia= masterpiece
• Mila Kunis and Charlize Theron: J’adore Dior..enough said!

The stars above definitely impressed, but there were two show stoppers of the night that I have to highlight. They literally took my breath away. Here they are: 

ANGELINA JOLIE

Not many people can pull off that high of a slit and still look like pure class. The red accent on her Atelier Versace dress went perfectly with her crimson Christian Louboutin clutch and scarlet lip color. Her skin looked like porcelain, and I love the way she did her top eye liner. It was just the perfect amount to keep the focus on her plump lips. She went simplistic with Lorrain Schwartz jewelry, well that is, if you count 25 carat earrings and a 12 carat ring as simple…

BTW, did anyone else notice how Lorrain Schwartz was the clear celeb favorite of the night? I felt like every other person on the red carpet was wearing her jewelry this year. 

LEA MICHELE

I hate to admit this because I think this girl is so ridiculous on a red carpet with her posing. I’ve never seen a celeb scold, pucker, and swing as much as her, but I have to give credit where credit lies. Lea Michele killed it in this Marchesa dress. It’s so different and bold, but at the same time so elegant. Her hair and makeup definitely topped off the look. By putting her hair up, we were able to focus on the beauty of the dress and her stunning makeup. Love the contouring, love the smouldering eyes, and love love love the nude lips. Shout out to fab Lancome makeup artist Melanie for a job well done!

P.S I’m really annoyed that Kim Kardashian and I have the same two favorites of the night. Really Kim, couldn’t you have picked any other two people to love?! Click here to see Kim talking about her thoughts on being called out during the monologue of the award show and why Angelina and Lea Michele were also her favorites. 

Who were YOUR Golden Globe favs? Do you have the same ones as me?

HAIR TRENDS: OMBRE ANYONE?

Whether it be highlights, streaks, or unnatural hair period, I’m not really a fan of hair coloring (after painful trial and error throughout my teenage years ofcourse-we all go through a phase of curiosity!). With that said, I do get an itching for a change every once in awhile! Having a solid hair color can get boring. At the same time, I don’t really want to go as drastic as cutting off 10 inches to suffice my craving to try something new. Lucky for me, ombre hair is sweeping Hollywood and gives me just the fix I need. If you think you have no idea what I’m talking about, you’re probably wrong! I’m sure you’ve noticed the look on your favorite celebs but just didn’t know the hair coloring tactic had a name. Here it is: 

Ombre hair is basically a dark to light fade of color in your hair starting from your roots. What I love is that this look can either be extremely dramatic or super soft. Depending on your personality and preference, you can go either way. Personally, I’m leaning towards the gradual fading of color, but as you can see from the stars above, it works for everyone! 

WARNING: This has to be done by someone who really knows what they are doing. Otherwise, you could take the risk of just looking like you really just need to get your roots done. I’ve been seeing DIY versions of this but nothing impressive. I say stick to a professional!

What do YOU think? Are YOU a fan of ombre hair?

5 FOR 5: TOP 5 PRODUCTS FOR UNDER 5 BUCKS

It’s nice to have some fancy shmancy beauty products, but when it comes to certain items that we use day to day, it’s important to find brands that are not only affordable but are trust worthy. Being that it’s the holidays and we all have a million gifts to buy, I figured now would be the best time to share my favorite five beauty products that you can get for under 5 dollars. Here they are:

1. FACIAL SKINCARE: St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub ($3.03): I LOVE the St. Ives apricot scrub. What’s great is that all the different scrubs in the product line have different levels of intensity. For those of you who want to get a gentle day to day cleanse, they have a product for you. For those of you who are looking for more coarse Apricot beads to get a deep down cleanse, they have a product for you as well! My personal favorite for my specific skin type is the Invigorating Apricot Scrub, but you may find that the Renew and Firm Apricot Scrub works best for you (my sister loves this one!). Every beauty magazine raves about this product with good reason. You will definitely get the most bang for your buck with ANY St. Ives Apricot Scrub you pick. 

2. HAIRCARE: Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Spray Gel ($3.19): If you’re not a fan ofhairspray but are looking for a product to reduce frizz and maintain hold, this is the product for you. I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love. The product feels very light on your head and works perfect for the days that I want to leave my hair naturally wavy. I am able to control my hair’s natural frizz and increase shine with a few sprays of this affordable product. 

3. COSMETICS: Maybelline Line Express Eyeliner Soft Black 902 ($4.79): I am always on the hunt for affordable makeup. What I love about this Maybelline eyeliner is that it works great for smokey eyes, believe it or not. The sponge on the other end of the liner allows for blending in the corners of your eye so the liner doesn’t look so harsh. Sometimes I like using a pencil liner because the smudge sponge at the end makes blending really easy. If you’re not a fan of the pencil liners and are looking for an affordable stick liner, I recommend my favorite liner of all time L’Oreal Paris Pencil Perfect Ebony ($8.49). If you’re a loyal Maybelline girl, they have a great stick liner for under 5 bucks as well called Maybelline Define-A-Lash Eyeliner ($4.79).

4. BODY SKINCARE: St. Ives Body Moisturizer ($3.99): I have extremely dry skin, so it is important for me to find a moisturizer than keeps my skin hydrated. What I love about the St.Ives brand is the results it gives for the price you’re paying. This lotion in specific is great because instantly after you put it in your hands, you can feel the moisture. I know that my skin is getting a quality product and a moisturizer that lasts longer than most. If you’re okay spending a little more money, the Aveeno Natural Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($8.79) is a favorite of mine as well. The Aveeno brand carries great natural products that don’t feel harsh against skin. I recommend trying both to see which works best for your unique skin type. 

5. BODY SKINCARE: Caress Daily Silk Body Wash ($3.59): I have a million different body washes, but to be honest, the scent of the Caress body washes are unbeatable! Every time I’m in a drug store and see Caress line of body washes, I never know which one to pick, but I’ve finally narrowed it down. My two favorites are the Daily Silk and the Tahitian Renewel. The Daily Silk is nice because for someone like me with dry skin, it makes my skin feel rejuvenated. The Tahitian Renewel is great because of the beads in it. Both will make you come out of the shower feeling refreshed and smelling radiant!

To all the drug store product haters, try them before dismissing them. I truly believe that half of the stigma against drug store products are in everyone’s head. We are trained to believe that pretty packaging, higher prices, and fancy department stores carry the best of the best. Don’t get me wrong, I have to have my Sephora fix everyone once in awhile, but we are in a recession people! You can get all the products above and more at your local CVS right now on sale for the prices listed above. Click on the links above to see my top 5 for 5, and look around their website to learn about more great products you can get for under 5 bucks!

What’s YOUR top 5 for 5? 

SPLURGE WORTHY: ROSE OIL

I’ve struggled with dry skin my whole life and am continuously looking for products to help with the issue. I recently purchased a product that I have found to drastically make a difference in the way my skin feels. If you feel let down by all the moisturizers out there that promise to stop your face from flaking (like me), I highly recommend this product: 

REN Rose O12 Ultra-Moisture Serum:

The entire REN line is great because it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients. They sell everything from body washes to bath oils. What I particularly liked about the face serum was how noticeably moisturized my face looked the next day. I know we all have a million different products we use during our nightly routine and don’t care to add one more on to the list, but this one is worth it for those who struggle with dry skin.

When to apply? I put it on right after I wash my face and before I put my night and eye cream on (make sure to let the serum set for a few seconds before applying your night cream). I’m not going to lie, the serum is def pricey but it will last forever! One dab is all you need every night- even the driest skin shouldn’t be drenched in oil. Just push down on the cap once in your palm, rub your hands together and lather your face. I wouldn’t recommend putting the serum around your eyes. Leave the eye dryness to the eye cream. 

SIDENOTE: The serum def has a rosey scent to it. I happen to like it, but if you’re planning on ordering this online and aren’t a fan of the natural fragrance of flowers, I would go into the store and check it out first!

What do YOU do to reduce dryness? 

NARS BRINGS OUT THE NIGHT, BUT IS IT WORTH IT?

Fall colors come early with NARS cosmetics new ‘Night Series’ Collection. When everyone else is doing bright, stand out this summer by doing DARK. The smoky shadows and unique polish hues will make you stand out this summer, but is it worth the price? 

NARS ‘Night Series’ Collection: The Palette ($55)

• Night Clubbing: black with gold pearls
• Night Flight: black with cobalt blue pearls
• Night Porter: black with green pearls
• Night Rider: soft plum with silver glitter
• Night Star: sheer peach with gold pearls

NARS ‘Night Series’: Nail Polish Collection ($17/each)

• Night Rider: soft plum with silver glitter
• Night Porter: black with green pearls
• Night Breed: black with silver glitter
• Night Flight: black with cobalt blue pearls

I have always been a huge fan and advocate of smoky eye makeup and always on the look for newest products to help create it, but I’m not sold on this palette. I do love NARS eye shadows such as the DUO, but for the price, this palette just doesn’t seem worth it. Even with the fancy shmancy names, I don’t think I can justify spending $55 dollars on a palette with only three colors I might actually use. If you are looking to create the perfect smoky eye, I have still yet to discover a better (might I add affordable) kit than LORACs. To learn more about it, click here. 

As for the nail polish colors, I think they look AMAZING! I love the unique mixture of hues like combining black with green, creating a gold feel oh AND COBALT BLUE? #perfect

To purchase or learn more about this seasonal collection, go to narscosmetics.com.

What do YOU think about the ‘Night Series’ Collection? Are you sold?

SMELL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS

DKNY comes out with the world’s first million dollar fragrance. After the success of their ‘Be Delicious’ fragrance packaged in the shape of the iconic NYC apple, DKNY recently launched a sister scent called ‘Golden Delicious’. The scent is described as follows: 

“About The Fragrance which is housed inside the ritzy bottle: DKNYGolden Delicious embraces a radiant modern spirit with the contrast of glistening florals and delicious heat. The top is a refreshing medley of Orange Flower Water, sparkling Mirabelle and signature Golden Delicious Apple. The heart introduces an intoxicating bouquet of White Rose, Casablanca Lily, Vanilla Orchid and Muget, while the finish spices up the freshness with a sensual blend of Musk, Sandalwood and Teakwood. It’s a scent created to tantalize the senses—bask in its rich elegance as well as its imperial glory. DKNY Golden Delicious Eau de Parfum is available in 100ml, 50ml and 30ml sizes.”

If the launch of a new scent wasn’t enough, DKNY partnered with celebrity jeweler Martin Katz to create DKNY Golden Delicious Million Dollar Fragrance Bottle. The bottle appropriately showcases the New York City skyline to align with the fragrance’s heritage. It features 14-karat yellow and white gold and encrusted with 2,909 precious stones including sapphires, pink diamonds, and rubys that came from places all over the world unique to that country such as Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Australia. 

I CANNOT stop looking at this bottle. Every intricate detail of it is absolutely perfect! Donna Karen hit the bulls eye with this one and could not have picked a better partner to help design it. BTW, how gorgeous is that base? I die for it! It sits on two layers of water white glass and accentuates the detailing of the fragrance eloquently.

Click here to watch Martin Katz himself talk about the creation of this masterpiece or click here to track the perfume as it travels around the world before it gets auctioned off for charity to benefit Action Against Hunger. 

What do YOU think of DKNY’s million dollar creation? 

OLAY DID IT AGAIN: BEST, AFFORDABLE EYE CREAM

Bags, dark circles, wrinkles, and dryness- I don’t understand why any of these problems exist, but the fact of the matter is that they do, so as women we go on the hunt for the best possible way to treat the problem. There are thousands of eye creams out there that promise the same thing. They say they are the best out there and no other cream can compare to what their magic cream can do. I’ve fallen for the same tricks most of you have, and 50+ dollars later, was heavily disappointed.

After trial and error, I finally found an eye cream that helps with moisturizing, dark circles, and anti-aging (yet to be determined and hopefully won’t be for a very long time!). SO here it is: 

OLAY Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream:

I’ve always been a fan of Olay for the simple fact that the brand makes quality products for the mass market. This is the first eye cream I’ve come across that doesn’t cost a fortune and gives me the results that I am looking for. You can learn more about this eye cream including key ingredients that make this cream work the way it does and application instructions on their website.

BTW, if you happen to have $130 dollars to spare (nbd), I have another recommendation that I’ve tried out. Shiseido Future Solution LX  has unmatchable hydration and has been rated as a top eye cream by virtually every beauty magazine. I just don’t think it’s worth it, especially when I think about how many MAC eyeshadows I could get for the same price (it’s 8 incase you were wondering). 

What’s YOUR favorite eye cream?

THE KARDASHIAN…NAIL POLISH?

Earlier this year it was announced that the Kardashians would come out with a line of nail polish shades for OPI. Kim Kardashian took to her blog today to talk about their latest business venture and post a preview of the line. The nail polish collection titled ‘Kardashian Kolors’ stays true to their enterprises theme of labeling words with their signature letter ‘K’. This time, the two younger Kardashians, Kendall and Kylie, joined in on the project. 

Kris Jenner seriously knows how to turn 15 minutes into 30. Smart move by adding the next generation of Kardashian ladies to the line. She’s gotta make her ‘momager’ ten percent from someone when the Kim obsession dies town! 

You won’t believe the names of the new shades, which are personalized to each of the Kardashian ladies themselves. Kourtney has a shade called “Kourt is Red-y For a Pedi” and Khloe’s shade is called “Khloe Had a Little Lam-Lam”. I honestly cannot wait to hear what Kim came up with. I will die if it has anything to do with her no name fiance Kris Humphries, but in true Kim fashion, I have a feeling it’ll revolve around her!

The line will be out just in time for Christmas (stocking stuffers anyone?) for $7.99 each at Nicole by OPI. Let the Kardashian reign continue!

UPDATE: CHECK OUT THE LIST OF ALL 14 CREATIVE SHADE NAMES ON COCO PEREZ.

What do you guys think of the OPI collection? Will YOU buy the ‘Kardashian Kolors’? 

PORES BE GONE!

I read this article today sent to me by a skinDEEP reader that I really wanted to address from The New York Times. The article is centered around the obsession by women of getting their pores to appear smaller/relatively not exist. Some girls are going to the extreme of getting pore treatments done with a heat mask to “stimulate collagen”, a procedure that looks painful and (might I add) expensive! 

I understand the pressures of society, and I do agree with the article that HDTV does make it much easier to notice the small little flaws that women have, but I do not believe any type of ‘procedure’ is the answer to this. There are products out there that can help minimize the appearance of pores and do a great job in doing so. The article mentions Smashbox Primer, which is a great product that helps make your face appear smoother. I’ve recently come across another product that I recommend even more if pores are a specific concern of yours. Here it is: 

Benefit Cosmetics: The POREfessional

Before ANYONE decides to go under the mask, I recommend trying this product out. It is extremely light weight and designed specifically to reduce the appearance of pores. So, how do you apply The POREfessional? The same way you would apply any primer. Place it over your entire face and especially in your problem areas (problem areas being where you think your pores are most visible i.e your nose).

Do YOU think the mask treatment is too extreme in getting rid of pores?

BEAUTY OF THE WEEK: SELENA GOMEZ

Has anyone else noticed how hot Selena Gomez is? Where did this even come from? From the streets of Waverly Place to roaming the beaches of Hawaii with Justin Bieber, Gomez has come a long way since her Disney days. She really caught my eye recently, (esp since the papz has been photographic her with her new boy toy- Bieber Fever duh). Her red carpet outfits are glamorous and way above her age (I feel like she’s become a major fashion trend setter for people that are way out of her age bracket!). Her makeup always makes her youthful skin look flawless, but what I love about her most is how genuine she seems. I love how her features are so innocent and soft- goes well with the stars personality! Gomez has always done her part to give back to society and seems to really stick to her moral beliefs- atleast for now! Let’s hope this lasts and she doesn’t follow down the same path as her fellow Disney co-stars such as Vanessa Hudgens and Miley Cyrus- we can only hope!

FOR THE FELLAS: SCENTS WOMEN WILL LOVE

There are two kinds of guys out there- the laid back guy and the metro guy. They both wake up every morning with VERY different routines. One will probably throw on a pair of Nike shorts and an old school tshirt. The other takes his time to iron his button down shirt and put on his tailored pants. One thing that both these guys have in common, laid back or metro, is that they put on their cologne before heading out the door.

The cologne a man wears says a lot about them. From the packaging to the brand, you can tell a lot about a man by their scent. I may not be a guy, but I do know what scents I love. After doing a study on male beauty products, I learned that men have strong brand loyalty towards their cologne. My advice to the guys out there is to find a scent that makes you stand out (this goes for the laid back guys out there as well!). If you’re out meeting a girl up, you don’t want to reek of the Curve cologne that 99% of the guys out there are wearing. Make a statement with your scent. Here are my picks for two colognes that women will LOVE and men don’t try enough:

CREED Green Irish Tweed:

The fragrance will run you around $270 at a luxury retailer, but you can find them for around $120. My recommendation is to go to a discount fragrance shop by you and ask them if they carry the cologne. From my experiences, most do. This way you can see the fragrance in person because sometimes the bottles sold online aren’t the real deal. You’re probably thinking in my head, “who has that much money to spend on cologne?!” and even if you did, “why is it worth so much?!” Here’s why…

The CREED dynasty of fragrances were founded in 1760 and have been named and worn by everyone from Hollywood stars, business legends, and political leaders. My personal fav is the scent Green Irish Tweed. It’s a quality scent that has been recently said to be worn by everyone from George Clooney to 50 Cent. Ladies, if you have an anniversary or birthday coming up for your man, get a gift that he will love and you’ll benefit from as well, buy your man CREED! To learn more about the history behind CREED, the key ingredients that make the product so luxurious, and to view the entire line (including cologne AND perfume), go to CREED Boutique.

Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme:

For those of you who saw the price of the CREED cologne and were over this posting, I highly recommend you try out YSL L’Homme! The price point is MUCH more reasonable, especially for the quality of the fragrance.The cologne is crisp but still has the masculine ingredients men are looking for. It can be worn from work to happy hour to dinner to a night out. Oh and might I add, girls will LOVE this scent! 

COMING SOON: The colognes above are both classics- two fragrances for year round usage. For the men out there looking for the newest fragrances that perfect for summer, stay tuned!

What’s YOUR fav. fragrance?!

IT’S GRADUATION TIME!

It’s the end of May and that means graduations! For those of you who have the big celebration coming up, here are some makeup tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure to moisturize before applying any makeup: It’s going to be a long day with lots of pictures being taken, so make sure to keep your face hydrated and looking smooth
• Make sure not to go overboard with the makeup: Yes, it’s a big day in your life and you want to stand out, but that doesn’t mean the attention needs to be on the access amount of eyeshadow you put on. Don’t go overboard. Subtle shades can make a big statement. For those graduating in the morning/afternoon, go with light eye shadows, blush, and a hint of gloss. Save the dramatic makeup for your celebrations that night!
• Make sure to carry your ‘essential product’ with you: I know it’s tough being in a cap and gown, but right after the ceremony means photo opps, and you don’t want your lips to look dull in all of them because you couldn’t find a place to fit your favorite gloss (my pick for ‘essential product’). I understand that you don’t want to carry around a clutch or purse with you, but that’s the benefit of wearing those unflattering baggy gowns-you can wear a side bag under them! Simply strap the side bag over the dress you’re wearing under your gown, and you’re good to go. You’ll have some gloss on you to put on right before you walk the stage if you want (kinda extreme but you know…)!

The biggest tip of them all- SMILE! No product can make you look better than your smile, so make sure to rock it, and and enjoy every moment of the day because you def deserve it. Congratulations to all the graduates in the class of 2011!