Melissa's Thursday Three and Camping Adventures

What do you mean, "it's Sunday?" I know, I know. I am a few days late.

I had to do a bunch or errands after leaving the office on Thursday and fully intended on writing this after, but I was running super behind and by the time I got home I had to rush to get ready to go see my brother-in-law's band, Powers, play their last show ever. Originally I planned to leave after their set, but you know how it is. You have one drink, and that leads to two, then three, and before you know if you're wobbling home at one-thirty in the morning sending obnoxious texts to everyone you know.

I had to get up early on Friday and run around like a headless chicken all morning before heading off into the woods of Hartford, Maine for a few days. Let me tell you, it was COLD. Cold doesn't even begin to describe it. I am a fairly tough chick, but i do not do cold. I had to get up at midnight to pee last night, and the thought of leaving the sleeping bag and blankets made me burst into hysterical tears. I fumbled around in the dark to find my phone, wandered until I found some bars and promptly sent a text to Thomas, who was home in our warm bed with our cuddly kittens.

Despite the frigid temps, I had a splendid weekend of no work, no computers, no phone calls, and no bullshit! I got to spend three days with some of my favorite women. It was a weekend full of good food, good laughs, and good medicine.

So... that is why I am doing this so late! On the bright side, this means you will get two Thursday Threes this week! One from me today, and one from Noella on Thursday!

Keeping in the spirit of things, my Thursday Three will be Three Things to Take Into the Woods...

1. Dr. Bronner's
Dr. B's comes in a variety of scents, but you have got to stay old school and stick with that minty-fresh tingle we all know and love. This is the perfect soap for camping because you can use it in the lake or in a solar shower without worrying about contaminating Mama Earth with a bunch of nasty chemicals. You can also use Dr. Bronner's to wash your dishes and your clothes! Take a minute to check out their web page or look up Emanuel Bronner on Wikipedia. If you have Netflix, put Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox in your queue. Dr. B was a wildly interesting fellow.

2. Sunblock
Just because it is negative one-hundred degrees doesn't mean the sun isn't out to get you. Protect your skin! Personally I am a fan of the Alba Botanica Green Tea Natural Sunblock. Don't forget to reapply your sun protection throughout the day, especially if you are going to be in water or you are camping somewhere with a lot of open, sunny spaces. Not only can you prevent an ugly, ouchy burn, you will prevent unwanted wrinkles and protect your skin against harmful, cancer causing rays. Remember your sensitive lips! Alba also makes some awesome lip balms with an SPF of 25!

3. Hair Accessories
You can never have too many barrettes, bandanas, hair ties or headbands out in the woods. Not only will you want to get the hair off of your face and neck when you are working up a sweat on a hike or hunting for firewood, but a cute hair barrette or some braids are the perfect way to feel pretty whether you are renting a cabin or roughing it. If you can't shower for a few days, a headband will hide your greasy bangs and a pony tail will keep the oils from getting all over your face. Invest in a good shower caddy, like the EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone Hanging Valet or an L.L. Bean Personal Organizer. This is a great way to carry all of your essentials, and maybe even sneak in a few girly things, without taking up a half of your tent.

xoxo Melissa

Color Wheel for Green/Hazel Eyes

Final installment of the color wheel series, featuring Roberta's Cinderella-esque good looks and lovely hazel eyes. Melissa uses three simple steps to create this wearable purple look!
Products used:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
Kat Von D True Romance palettes in Ludwig and True Love

The Color Wheel for Brown Eyes

Second installment of the wicked pretty color wheel looks Melissa masterminded! Thank you to gorgeous Jessica for being our guinea pig. This looks works with Jessica's brown eyes to create maximum *pop* and flattery. Products used:
MAC Naked Lunch
Urban Decay Vegan Palette- Smog/Twice Baked
Kat Von D Ludwig Palette - Leather
Benefit Bad Gal Brown

(Noella Note: iMovie can be really beastly sometimes and so on it's behalf I want to apologize for the abrupt ending of this video. It's sorry it's so hard to use and I'm sorry I don't know how to use it :o)

The Color Wheel Woes and More Love for Double Lines

Noella has been working hard editing and uploading the color wheel videos we made over the weekend. She rocks! As does her wonderful husband Nick who allowed us to kidnap his camera for the evening.

The lighting in my dining room is not that great, and I don't feel that the looks and colors transferred onto camera very well. A lot of the dark shadows show up on screen, but the colors are not very visible. Apart from that, we had a lot of people over (as you may have heard), so I felt nervous and mumbly and kind of sloppily rushed my way through application. I'm not very happy with myself or the results, so I will probably make some new color wheel videos in the future.

I believe there is a double liner video taking up space on Nick's camera as well, so that may potentially pop up in Wicked Pretty's future. I know I have mentioned this a million times already, but I love double liner! It is so quick and easy, and bright liners are totally in right now! I especially love the Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Liners, which I have also mentioned a million times. They're just so gorgeous! The colors are vibrant and the sparkle is not over-powering at all. It is exactly that, sparkle. Not chunky glitter that threatens to flake off onto your cheeks over the course of a day. These things are so highly pigmented that you won't even have to correct any blemishes in your first line. The Stila liner will cover them right up with brilliant color. Try using your bright liner along the bottom  lash line as well. Follow up with a color that matches your first line along the waterline, or mix things up by adding a complimentary third color. Have fun with it!

xoxo Melissa

The Color Wheel for Blue Eyes

Hello Wicked Pretties! This is the first of Melissa's series of looks using the color wheel. Don't ask me how she got such a famous/talented model for this video--must have been expensive! The products Melissa used were:
Stila Wonderful in Waikiki Palette
MAC Coppering
Kat Von D Ludwig Palette
Benefit Bad Gal Brown

Melissa's Thurday Three

Much like last time, I wanted to make my Thursday Three into a video. But after work I had to run some errands, then make dinner, then clean all my brushes, then watch Colbert, and then laugh at Anderson Cooper for an hour.

With that being said, Wicked Pretty is having a video shoot tomorrow with some of our beautiful friends, so keep an eye on the blog and our YouTube page this weekend!

Melissa's Thursday Three...

MAC Wonder Woman palette in Defiance

Okay, so maybe this is so last season, but whatever. I remember talking to one of my dude friends, who happens to be a huge comic book nerd, when I mentioned something about MAC. He was like, “Oh. I think they’re the ones who are going to be making a line of Wonder Woman makeup.” What?!!! Amazing! So I patiently stalked the MAC website, just waiting and waiting for them to release the line. I actually didn’t end up buying much, as tempting as it was. Truth be told, I didn’t really dig most of the colors or palettes, but the awesome packaging was too hard to resist. I did, however, fall head over heels for the Defiance palette. Shiny! Pretty! I just had to have it or I was going to die! I ended up using the thing one time before it went in ye olde train case and hid under some of my more neutral, frequently used palettes. That is until this week. Don’t you love rediscovering things you already own? Its like that album you haven’t listened to in a year, and when you pop it in you wonder, “Why the hell don’t I listen to this every single day of my life?!” Defiance is like the cosmetics equivalent of So Tonight That I Might See. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface

Dollface is the perfect name for this shade, because that is exactly how it makes you feel. I just want to throw on some Victorian garb and take my place on that shelf in your grandmother's house where she keeps all her porcelain dolls. I think this is a lovely color for any skin tone. It’s soft and rosy, and it really helps even out redness. I was afraid of blush for a long time, on account of my rosacea, but that was before I realized how much it can help hide rosacea. Dollface is gorgeous and it is definitely my new go-to.

Double Liner

This spring, Urban Decay and Stila both came out with some super bright, fun liquid liners. Generally I am a neutral or classic black kind of a gal, but these things are way too gorgeous to resist. I desperately covet Urban Decay’s liquid liner in the color Woodstock. I have that shade eye shadow pan, but it’s not the same. Maybe that will be my next cosmetic purchase. I think I look a little weird when I wear a colorful liner on its own, so I have been doubling up! A line of black along the lash line and a thin line of something bright above it for some pop looks really nice. There are also a few color combinations that I have been liking a lot. Like Urban Decay in Smog along the lash line with Stila’s Electric above it, and Urban Decay’s Retrograde with a line of Stila’s Bora Bora. Apparently double lining is in right now, so give it a try! And please ignore my poorly groomed brows.

xoxo Melissa

Four Simple Steps to Nicer Skin

The most important part of any beauty routine is skin care. It doesn't matter how much makeup you use or what type of foundation you buy if your skin is a mess. Obviously some people have been more blessed in the skin department than others. Trust me though, even those girls with seemingly flawless skin have something they struggle with.

I have personally never struggled with acne. Not even during puberty or as a teenager. I never, and i mean never, wore make up when i was a teenager. When I did get a pimple, the whole entire world might as well have been ending. I remember my first pimple very clearly (no pun intended)...

I was about nine or ten. I know that seems young for zits, but I was cursed. My mum was at work and her roommate was watching television in the living area. I was in my bedroom, probably making believe that I was Lydia Deetz or putting all five-million of my Pixietails in my hair or something, when I noticed a little red bump on my shoulder. Hmmm... curious. So I sauntered on into the living room screaming, "Anne! Anne!!!!! There is something on my shoulder!" She took one look at it and calmly brushed it off saying, "Oh, jeez. It's only a pimple."

A PIMPLE? A MOTHER BLEEPING PIMPLE!???!????

I stormed back to my room, threw myself on the bed, and screamed and cried hysterically for hours. So what if I was a melodramatic child? Shut up.

And that is how it continues to go today. My skin stays clear for three weeks out of the month, and then when my visitor arrives, she brings a friend. An intrusive, uninvited friend who makes herself at home right on my face.

I know. Boohoo. Poor Melissa and her clear skin. But oh, my dear readers, there is a trade off. Let's start off with the fact that I am highly photosensitive. Seriously. When I was a little girl I couldn't even play in the sun for more than ten minutes without hopping on the express train to puke-ville. I currently have permanent sun damage on my left arm and part of my chest, all because I thought, "Meh... I'm going to be in the car and I only need to make it to the Boston toll. I can just put on sun block when I get there." Boy, was I wrong. So while my darling father walks around with his Seneca blood, and my dear mum looks like a bronzed, Italian goddess, I am left looking like Wednesday Addams. When I was in elementary school, people even called me Wednesday. It probably would have hurt my feelings if I wasn't such a weird kid.

So apart from making paper look tan, the older I get the worse my rosacea gets. A lot of people comment on my rosy cheeks. They all think it's just precious. "Oh, look at you. You are strawberries and cream! How Pretty! Oh, you look just like Snow White!" You know what?  I don't feel like Snow White. I feel like Raggedy effing Ann. I might as well pull out a tube of Russian Red and draw two giant circles on my face.

So you see, there is always something. And if you are blessed with effortlessly flawless skin, well, for starters your are probably in elementary school, and if you are not... well, it will catch up with you. I don't care if your face feels like a fluffy bunny sleeping on a baby's behind. Take. Care. Of. Your. Skin! This is not something you need expensive lotions and potions for. 

Here are four super easy, super cheap (or free) things you can do every day to promote clear and healthy skin...

UNO: Drink water.
I'm not talking about sipping the same bottle of water all day either. I am talking the recommended eight + glasses a day. I don't care if you have to get up five-hundred times to go pee. I pee all dang day. Just ask my co-workers! But drinking this water will help hydrate your skin and your body. It also helps flush toxins from your body, which is awesome for your skin and good for you in general. I drink two glasses immediately upon waking as part of my Ayurvedic routine, but that's another story.

DUE: Wash Your Face Before Bed
Ladies... Gents... Do not go to bed with your make-up on. Wash your face even if you don't use cosmetics. Do you know what kind of grimy crap creeps its way onto your beautiful mug during the day? Toxins, dirt and germs. Oh my! Going to bed with your foundation on can clog your pores, and it won't be pretty. Leaving your mascara on can cause your lashes to break. Not to mention your pillow case will look like Dr. Rockso spent the night. C-c-c-clean your face!

TRE: Wear Sunscreen and Moisturizer with SPF
I know you want to look like Snooki, but if you keep frequenting the beach and the tanning beds, you're going to look fifty by the time you're thirty. Not only will you have to walk around looking like Leather Face, you will also increase your chances of permanent sun damage and melanoma. Protecting your face from the sun will cut down on break outs and keep you looking younger longer. I even use sunblock in December.

QUATTRO: Get Your Z's
If I practiced what I preached, I wouldn't be up writing this right now. When you are tired, dark circles form under your eyes. When you are really tired, say like you are lucky to average four hours a night and you have been living this way for like, oh, fifteen years, you get dark circles, bags and wrinkles. I speak from personal experience when I say no amount of ice packs or eye creams will help you once you have reached the point of no return. When you are well rested, it shows.

Now, quit reading this and go take a nap.

xoxo Melissa

For the Love of Stila

My friends make fun of me for "endorsing" products a lot, but I can't help it. In a world where everyone is trying to sell you something, and that something is usually of a cheap quality and overpriced, it's important to recognize quality when you see it. Stila is quality on every level.

Stila is actually responsible for my foray into the world of cosmetics. Some years back, their famous, "Kitten," eye shadow was my first ever prestige purchase. If you are new to Stila, it should be your first purchase, too. Ever since then, I have been obsessed.

Stila 101:

Jeanine Lobell founded Stila in 1994 and named the company for the Italian word, "stilare," or, "to pen," because, "every woman’s makeup should be as individual as her own signature."

Later the company changed hands when it was bought out by Estee Lauder who owned the company for ten years until it became a Lynn Tilton company in 2009.

Stila's official website states, "Stila's goal is to help every woman celebrate her own unique beauty; to look and feel like the best version of herself; and to have fun doing it."

Stila releases a new line every season, as well as specials throughout the year. In the past they have teamed up for some really fun collaborations, like Barbie loves Stila, Stila loves Derby Dolls, and most recently, Stila loves Roxy.

Stila offers quality, highly pigmented, wearable products that look gorgeous and last all day. They aren't just long lasting on your face, they are long lasting in general. They really give you some bang for your buck.

For example, I have been using the same Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner pen since September, 2010. That is almost a full year of using it darn near daily, and it is still going. My MAC Penultimate was dried out in less than a month.Don't get me wrong, I really love MAC, but the Penultimate does not compare. I have also tried the NARS Eyeliner Stylo, and again, I adore NARS, but it just doesn't measure up. I have Stay All Day in black and brown, and they just released some new colors, including a lovely, dark green that I am just dying to get my hands on.


Here are a few of the things that make Stila really special...


1. The Stila Girl

Instead of models, Stila products and advertisements feature the Stila girls illustrated by Caitlin Dinkins. The drawings I have included in this blog are only a few examples. This leads us to the next thing...

2. Packaging

Okay, so I know that packaging doesn't effect the product, and maybe it is just because I have worked in marketing for a few different companies, but I adore Stila's packaging! Its like when you hear Tom Morello on the radio. No matter what band it is you instantly recognize his sound. Stila is like the Tom Morello of cosmetics. You can spot a Stila palette from across a crowded room. Packaging is the perfect segue into #3...

3. Ethics and Responsibility

Stila's packaging consists of recyclable cardboard and aluminum, many packages are biodegradable, and compacts and palettes are refillable so as to create less waste.On top of all that, a ton of their products are made from local sources in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Stila's cosmetics are cruelty free and never tested on animals.

4. Customer Service

Stila actually cares about you. All bazillion of you. Their customer service is crazy amazing. If you contact them, they will return your calls, letters, or e-mails. Even if you just want to say, "Oh hey, Stila. I think you rock!" Last Christmas they were really busy and behind on their orders. As a result my shipment arrived one day late, which is no big deal to me, but did not go unnoticed by them. My package was full of extra goodies because they wanted to show that they were sorry. What?! If you google Stila or look them up on YouTube, you can hear a ton of other stories about how awesome and attentive their company is. They truly go above and beyond.

I could probably go on and on forever talking about each individual product, their awesome sales, and a plethora of other things. Instead I will give you a peek at a few items from my personal Stila collection and recommend just a few essentials...

 (Please ignore how incredibly scratched up my dining room table is)

If you are new to Stila, and even if you're not, here are a few of their items that i recommend the most...

My Top Five Stila Picks

1. Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup

If you have been following Wicked Pretty thus far, you will know that I have already raved about this foundation. I am pretty sure this formula was created using magic. It is so light that you won't feel like you have anything on your face at all, and at the same time, the coverage is outstanding. It is also buildable, so you can add more onto those pesky red areas and it will blend flawlessly. 

2. Eye Shadow in Kitten

Kitten is Stila's best selling shade for a reason. This gorgeous champagne contains just the right amount of shimmer, which makes it easy to use for both neutral and made up looks.

3. Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Dark Brown

As i mentioned above, I have been using the same pen almost daily for about a year now, and it is still not done. Seriously, what more do you need to convince you to run out and buy this eyeliner right now? I love classic black, but the dark brown is my favorite. These pens go one super smooth and do not come off until you want them to.

4. Stila Sun Bronzer

I'm super fair, so bronzer either makes me look like and Oompa Loompa, or like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown. But not the Stila Sun Bronzer. I love, love, love this product. It is perfect for contouring and does not look dirty on light skin.  

5. Lip and Cheek Stain in Mango Crush

This product is amazing. I have a few colors, but Mango Crush is by far my favorite. The color is buildable and you can use it on both your cheeks and lips. My lips are naturally pink, so one coat usually does me. When it dries i amp it up with Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten. (That was my way of sneaking in an extra top pick. I love the Kitten Lip Glaze and use it almost every day, with or without the Lip and Cheek Stain.)

If you have made it through this novel of a post, congratulations and thank you! Now go get yourself some Stila! 

Click HERE to shop Stila Cosmetics official web page.

Click HERE to "like" them on Facebook.

Click HERE to follow Stila on Twitter.

Click HERE to follow them right here on Blogger!

xoxo Melissa

Applying the Color Wheel to Cosmetics

Anyone who took elementary school art is probably familiar with the color wheel. If you are not, the color wheel consists of the primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and the results of their combinations (secondary colors), which are complimentary, or opposite, to those colors. 

From an artist’s standpoint, it makes complete and total sense to apply the color wheel to cosmetics, especially concerning the eye shadow.

Let’s start by breaking things down:

Primary colors:

Red, Blue, Yellow

Secondary colors:

Red + Blue = Purple

Red + Yellow = Orange

Blue + Yellow = Green

Complimentary colors:

Red = Green

Blue = Orange

Yellow = Purple

Obviously the spectrum of colors is much wider than what I have listed here, but consider this a basic refresher.

So, if you are going to apply the concept of the color wheel to find a shadow that will really make your eyes pop, you will want to choose a shade, or a variation of a shade, that is opposite your eye color…

If you have blue eyes…

As we have established above, the opposite of blue is orange. Obviously you are not going to want to walk around with Tang eyes all day, unless you have darker skin and you can pull it off.

If you have fairer skin, try using a soft, orangey peach on your lids and using a light coral or a neutral color in your crease. Use a white or light peach colored pencil on your water line to make your eyes appear bigger and brighter. I recommend using a chocolate color on your top and bottom lash line to keep things looking natural. Top it off with a brown mascara, or a dark, navy blue. The blue mascara will compliment your eyes as well as making the whites appear whiter. This is a trick that can be used on any eye color, though I personally think it looks best with blue eyes.

If you have darker skin, feel free to be a little bolder in your choices. Vibrant colors will not appear quite as bright on dark skin, so experiment a little. Try a bright orange all over the lid and a burnt or brownish orange in the crease. Use a soft peach to highlight your inner corners and brow bone, as well as along your water line. Choose your eyeliner accordingly. If you are tan, stick with a chocolate brown, or if you have a deeper, darker skin tone, try a thin, black line. Choose a blackish brown mascara to finish the look. 

Try Stila's Wonderful in Waikiki Palette.

If you have green eyes…

The opposite of green is red. Again, unless you are into big, bold colors, you’re not going to want to walk around with Crayola lids. For the sake of this blog, let’s keep things, “wearable.”

I love pink eye shadows, but you have to be very careful with them. The wrong shade of pink around the eyes can just make you look like you have been rocking the ganj’ all day, and that is not an attractive look on anyone. If you are fair, choose a soft, baby pink for your lids. Follow it up by mixing a bit of that same pink with a little light brown and work that into your crease. White or a champagne color would make a lovely highlight for the brow bone and inner corners, and a white liner along your water line will really make things pop. Brown and pink make a lovely pair, so use a brown liner along your top and bottom lash lines and finish with a dark brown mascara.

Purples are gorgeous on both light and dark skin. Light lavender for the lid, a medium purple in the crease, and a white highlight will make green eyes sparkle. Try a deep plumb liner on your upper lash line and a soft brown for the lower. You can use the plumb on your lower lids as well, but again, take care or you will look tired and stoned. If you have really dark skin, get bold with your shades. Purples are absolutely gorgeous on women with deep and dark brown skin tones. 

Try the right side of Kat Von D for Sephora's True Love Palette. The color that looks white in the palette actually applies as lavender and is absolutely gorgeous. This palette also features stunning neutrals.

For those with brown eyes…

Brown is not on the color wheel, and is created by mixing secondary colors. As it is an earth tone, or a neutral color, I personally believe that brown eyes are best complimented by other earth tones and neutral colors. All eye colors are. A little bit of shimmer will really make brown eyes sparkle. Choose a soft beige for lighter skin and go darker the deeper your color is. I also love using gold and bronze on brown eyes. Choose a deeper shade or brown or bronze/gold for your crease and highlight with a shimmery champagne. As with the other colors, choose your liner and mascara according to your skin tone; browns for fair skin, blackish brown for tanner shades, and black for deep or dark skin colors.

If you are have dark brown skin, try using the purples recommended in the green eye suggestions. Deep skin tones are the exception to breaking the neutral rule when it comes to creating a wearable look for brown eyes.

No matter what your skin tone, don’t be afraid to play with shades of gold.

Try Urban Decay's ever-popular and widely coveted Naked Palette, or the gorgeous Vegan Palette. The Vegan Palette is on sale for $19 right now. Seriously. It is $17 for one individual Urban Decay shadow. How can you pass up six gorgeous colors, a mini primer potion AND a 24/7 pencil for $19? You can't. Buy it now and you won't be sorry. 

If you have hazel eyes…

If you have hazel eyes, you can probably successfully wear both the green eyed and brown eyed looks. Definitely play with golden shades, as hazel eyes tend to have a ring of gold in the center or gold flecks. If you have light eyes, play around with the blue eyed look as well. Though generally, I think the green and brown eyed looks are going to compliment you better. 

I recommend Benefit's BADgal Brown and Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Dark Brown to compliment all of these looks.

As soon as I round the troops I will be making a color wheel video using all of the palettes and products listed here, so keep an eye out!

xoxo Melissa

Put Your Softest Face Forward!

I wish that everyone reading this could reach through the screen and touch my cheek. Seriously, I am making my fiancé feel up my face right this very minute. I don't think my skin has ever felt so soft, and i have Michelle Phan to thank for it.

Anyone who watches beauty videos knows Michelle Phan, and if you watch her channel you will know that she has been making quite a few d.i.y. skincare videos lately. Her Look of the Day for August 12 was a d.i.y. cotton mask. Click HERE to view the video.

I didn't have all of the products that she uses, so here is what I did....

First I removed my make up using Sephora's Waterproof Make Up Remover. I actually hate this product, but I needed to try something new now that Benefit isn't making Gee, That Was Quick. It leaves my skin and hands feeling very greasy. I would never use it for clean up, and only utilize it if I will be washing my face immediately after.

When my make up was off, I cleansed my face using Purity Made Simple by Philosophy. I think we have already mentioned this product like a bazillion times. That is because it is amaze-aze-ing. Then i exfoliated with Origins' Modern Friction, another product you will never get us to shut up about. I gently patted my face dry and moved onto the mask.

I used some non-stick pads that I had in the medicine cabinet. I ripped them in half so that i had two pieces, each with one smooth non-stick side, and one cottony side. I ripped enough pads to cover my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. I laid them all out, soft side up, and spread a thin layer of Embryolisse (Ooh, la la! Thanks, Noella!!!) over the cotton. Next i pressed the pads back together and held them under the warm tap until they were good and wet. I held them between my palms and pressed them together so they weren't sopping and laid them across the previously mentioned areas of my face. You will want to give them a good press so they stick. You may even want to lay back or recline so they don't fall off, but I found mine stayed on alright.

Then you just play the waiting game. Michelle said she leaves hers on for about ten minutes. I opted for twenty. You will know when they are ready to come off, because the cotton will start drying out a bit.

After you remove the cotton, you will be able to feel the moisturizer on your skin. But we are going to take it a step further! I used Origins' Starting Over under my eyes and applied VitaZing all over my face and neck. Ladies, (and gents), don't neglect your neck. (Oooh, that rhymed! I'm a rapper!) I finished it all off with a quick spritz of Mist Opportunity by Mark.

I would personally recommend doing this routine at night and not in the morning before work, because your face is going to feel moist for quite a while. But when you are finished.... Oh. My. Goodness.

Obviously you can use any cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturizer that you prefer, though I highly recommend using products that are light, gentle and water based. You don't want to overload your face with oils, especially if you decide to do this before bed. Lord knows what kind of a mess you will wake up to! Especially if you have sensitive combination skin like mine. The goal is to feel soft and clean, not heavy and greasy. So choose your products wisely!

xoxo Melissa

the Thursday Three - Melissa's Picks

Hi, pretties! We have decided to take turns doing Thursday Threes, where we will talk about three products or beauty related items that we are crushing on every week. It's almost midnight, so I better kick things off while it's still Thursday!

Un: Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Smog
This color is so beautiful that it's ridiculous. It really doesn't look like the Smog colored shadow, which is more of a golden brown. The liquid liner looks more like a golden green, and it's just gorgeous. These liners, like most Urban Decay products, are simply amazing and they don't budge. It looks just as good at the end of the day as it does when you apply it.



Deux: Lights, Camera, Splashes by Tarte
I had heard nothing but awesome reviews of this mascara, so I thought I would give it a go. I'm really glad I did, because I love it. I bought the waterproof formula, and waterproof it is. Maybe even more so than Urban Decay's Cannonball. The best part about Lights, Camera, Lashes is that it makes your lashes look curled without having to use a curler. If you want dramatically full lashes, this is not the mascara for you, though it does make them look dark and long. I think this is perfect for more of a natural look.




Trois: Lula # 12
So, this is obviously not a beauty product, but if you are into dreamy fashion and magical photography, you will love it. My all time favorite magazine regularly features indie it-girls like Zooey Deschanel and Tennessee Thomas, both of whom I am in love with. The newest issue features my hero, Julia Hill. When I opened the magazine and saw her gorgeous face I was so excited. I am not the most fashionable girl, mostly because I am really self-conscience about my body, but I love fashion. If you do, too, check out Lula. It is expensive and sometimes hard to find, but totally worth it.


xoxo Melissa

Brazilian Peel

This past weekend was V.I.B. appreciation at Sephora, so after work on Friday I rushed right over to the mall to claim my booty. Members received a mini-hatbox filled with deluxe samples. Some of them are super awesome, like a hefty tube of NARS primer and a Laura Mercier mascara, and some of them are not so awesome, like a tiny bottle of stinky Tokidoki perfume that leaked all over everything. But even if all of the samples were complete ca-ca-doo, you’re left with a useful and adorable hatbox that will look cute as a button on any vanity.

One sample that I was super pumped to give a whirl was the Brazilian Peel. I have heard mixed reviews about this. Here is what Sephora has to say about this product:

"The first medical-strength peel for at-home use, Advanced Home Actives' Brazilian Peel innovative formula contains rejuvenating glycolic acid and açai, a natural antioxidant straight from Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The powerful combination safely provides you with results similar to those from a professional chemical peel—without the painful side effects. The four-week regimen is clinically proven to smooth, firm, and brighten skin, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and restoring the skin's ability to build collagen. Even more impressive: You'll pay hundreds of dollars less than what you would at a doctor's office.”

I’m a bit obsessed with my skin, especially as I approach thirty, so I was all over this. The product comes in a double barreled syringe that you pump into your palm and mix with your fingers. When you mix it together it becomes alarmingly hot. I started having flashbacks to that episode of Sex and the City when Samantha gets a chemical peel and has to walk around looking like Darth Vader sans helmet for the rest of the episode. But I put it on my face anyway.

It didn’t feel hot on my face. In fact, it didn’t feel anything. Not warm or tingly or tight. I waited the recommended amount of time and hopped in the shower. When I was finished, I applied my eye cream and moisturizer as usual.

Now, the above blurb states that this is supposed to be a four week process, so maybe reviewing this product from one sample is a little premature. With that being said, as far as I can tell this product doesn't really do much. My skin didn’t look or feel any different. I mean, even those cheap-o peels that you can get for $0.50 at Sally’s make your skin feel tighter and softer.

Maybe I would notice a difference if I followed the complete four week regimen, but at almost $80, I'm not going to shell out to find out.

xoxo Melissa

If You a Fly Girl, Get Your Nails Done

Even if you have no interest in beauty trends, it is very unlikely you haven’t noticed that flashy nails are totally in. You can’t flip through any magazine without coming across an ad for those colorful, patterned nail polish sheets. And if you have been into a Sephora lately, you’ve seen their giant display of O.P.I, glitter and nail stickers.

I’m not the trendiest girl in the world, but I have hitched a ride on this bandwagon with the giddy glee I felt at age twelve when my mother finally allowed me to buy that iridescent, teal nail polish I’d been eying for months.

When I was younger, wearing a nail polish that was anywhere outside the pink/red range was pretty much unheard of. Not to mention near impossible to find. I used to paint my nails with White-Out and decorate them with Sharpies. I remember drooling over the green, silver and blue Urban Decay selections every time my mother would drag me to Wal-Mart. (Obviously before UD transitioned into a prestige line.) She thought they were hideous and disgusting, and she refused to buy them for me. Eventually, as mothers often do, she caved in. Oh, the pure bliss! (We would have this fight again a few years later when I wanted to dye my hair those same colors.) 

A lot of the time I would paint my nails just to hide the acrylics or the jeweler’s rouge lodged under them from one of my many art projects. But I just loathed pink and I didn’t want to be seen wearing something so girly. (Now I cannot get enough pink in my life.)

But today, instead of hiding the remnants of my art projects, I can turn my nails into an art project of their own. Polishes are available in any color you can dream up, bottled, in pens and in prints on sheets. 

Personally, I'm really feeling mixed metals right now. My toes are bronze with gold and mirrored embellishments, and my fingers are clean, shiny copper with silver tips. As it is also trendy to paint one or two nails in a different color than the others, I have painted my ring fingers silver with a copper tip. I have dubbed this look, "the Sixth Cents," because the colors remind me of pennies and nickels. Get it? Well, at least I amuse myself.

xoxo Melissa

Create a Natural Everyday Look for Any Skintone

In this post I am going to tell you how to create a natural look using some of my favorite products. These neutral colors compliment every skin tone, from the fairest white to the deepest brown. You can obviously use any brand you would like, but these are the products that I personally use and recommend. 

Start off by washing and moisturizing your face, neck, and chest. If you are on the hunt for a good face wash, try Philosophy's Purity Made Simple. This will remove any leftover make-up and dirt and is gentle on sensitive skin. I recommend exfoliating at least three times a week to remove dead skin, deep clean pores, and keep your face feeling soft. I prefer Modern Friction by Origins for my finicky skin. Your moisturizer is going to depend on what type of skin you have; oily, dry, or combination. I have combination skin and rosacea, and I tend to get very dry in the winter. I adore A Perfect World by Origins, which compliments Modern Friction perfectly.  I am also a huge fan of the Green Tea and Rose Hydrating Serum from John Masters Organics. But again, use whichever products work best for you.

To Prime or Not to Prime?
A primer isn't always necessary, but I find it helps my foundation go on smoother and blend much easier. Stila's One Step Correct looks like a totally bitchin' science experiment, and it feels great. The peach and the green swirls help to brighten and tone down red areas on your face.

Foundation
All aboard the Stila train, toot toot! Stila's Natural Finish Oil Free Makeup is the best thing that ever happened to my face. Truly the holy grail of foundations, this product comes in every shade imaginable, blends flawlessly, and looks completely natural.

Even Out and Set with a Powder
Thanks to the lovely girl at Macy's, I recently discovered the magic of Benefit's Get Even Pressed Powder. Good god, y'all. I am a huge Benefit fan, but I never tried their powders because I thought I had settled down with one already. Let me tell you, I am a convert! This pressed powder is so soft and amazing that I swear it must have been produced at Hogwarts. It really helps to even out the redness on my nose and cheeks, and it doesn't make my face look cakey at all.

Eye Primer and Shadow
Let's stick with Benefit and talk about Stay Don't Stray. I love this product so much. I dab a bit on my eyelids and under my eyes and gently blend it in with my ring finger. This brightens up your face so much that you can probably skip under-eye concealer. Honestly, I even skip shadow half the time! But if you are looking for a beautiful, natural eye shadow, I recommend the True Romance Palette by Kat Von D for Sephora in Ludwig. This stuff is crazy amazing. The shadows are insanely soft, highly pigmented, and just gorgeous. Don't let your opinion of the reality t.v. star keep you from trying these out. You won't be sorry. A quick dusting of, "Clay,' on your lids, a little, "Downtown," in the crease, and a dab of, "Tequila," in the corners and you are good to go.

 

Line and Define

Line your lids with a deep, chocolatey liquid. Ever the Stila fanatic, I use their Stay All Day in dark brown. Now, I love MAC just as much as the next girl, but in a fight to the death, Stay All Day would dominate Penultimate. I have been using the same exact pen since September of last year, and it is still going strong. Plus, it really does stay all day! A thin line along the lashes with a slight cat-eye will make your eyes appear larger. A bit of Stila's famous Kajal liner in Pearl along the waterline will also open and brighten your eyes. Line your lower lash line, starting at the outer eye and continuing about half way, with Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon or Underground. The pencils are long-lasting, so soft and smooth. You will never want to use anything else. 

Luscious Lashes

The secret to crazy full, long looking lashes is combining products. Seriously, people ask me if I am wearing false lashes all the time. It's best to start out with something that lengthens and separates. I am currently loving They're Real by Benefit, which has replaced Fairy Drops in my routine. (Though I would recommend either). I like to follow this up with a few coats of MAC Plush Lash. This stuff is out of this world and will make you feel sexy as hell. The only problem is it is not waterproof. That is why I top it all off with a healthy coat of Urban Decay's Waterproof Big Fatty. (This is currently on sale for $10.00! Hurry up and get it now!) The Big Fatty bonds to the other mascaras and helps keep you looking fly and run-free all day. Pop a bit of it on your bottom lashes to soften up the look of your 24/7 liner.

Pucker Up
Keep your lips soft by gently rubbing them or brushing them when you wash your face. Remember to be ginger, your lips are very sensitive. If they are feeling overly dry, try exfoliating them with a combination of agave nectar and sugar. (When you're finished you can lick your lips, yum!) Moisturize them regularly, especially if you live in a climate with winters as harsh as ours. I can't get enough of the Kiss My Face Lip Balms. They're all natural, plus they feel and smell great. My favorite is the cranberry orange. If you like to keep it natural, stop here. But if you are looking to draw more attention to your mouth, add a little definition to your cupid's bow with one of Urban Decays 24/7 liners in Yeyo. Finish your lips with a nude or pink shade. I am partial to MAC lipstick in Speed Dial or Sweetie.

Brighten Up
If you feel like you're looking a little too monochromatic, try brightening up with a soft pink blush. I have recently fallen head over heels for Benefit's Posietint. I honestly did not think I would like this, what with my already rosie complextion. I was also afraid of how a stain might look on my fair skin, but this stuff is phenomenal. If you are light like me, Posietint will give you a natural looking flush. If you have darker skin, it will give you a warm glow. If you aren't feeling daring enough to experiment with a stain, try Dandelion, also by Benefit. By far my all time favorite powder blush, Dandelion is soft and feminine. And not that it matters, but the packaging is gorgeous.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these products, you will find everything except for Origins and John Masters at both your local Sephora and Ulta. John Masters products can be found in the beauty section of your local Whole Foods Market, and if you are in the Portland area, you will find Origins in the Maine Mall, along with the MAC counter at Macy's. 

xoxo

Melissa

And So It Begins

I have to be honest, for a long time I felt embarrassed when I wore make-up, even if it was just a little. I would leave the house feeling pretty, but once I stepped out into public, especially around people I knew, I got all self-conscience. I spent a good portion of my life as the tomboy to end all tomboys, and after that long people expect you to be a certain way. So, when you change the way you are, no matter how true to yourself you may be, people are going to judge you. Not always harshly. I remember the first time I wore eye make-up to work. One of my co-workers stopped in his tracks and said, “Woah! You look hot!” Sure, it was a compliment, but I didn’t really want anyone to notice me at all. So I made a change? Why do you have to mention it?

This all stems back to the reason I became a tomboy in the first place. When I was a kid, like most girls, I was just a little wisp of a thing. (Oh goddess, what I wouldn’t give to be a wisp today!) But one morning I woke up and these ridiculously humongous ta-tas had exploded on my chest overnight, leaving me looking like a twelve year old Dolly Parton. Let me tell you, I was very popular with all of the horny, pre-pubescent, tween boys at school. I was shy and prudish, and now I felt horrible about my body. So I stopped using my mum’s rouge and mascara and opted for my father’s t-shirts instead. I wanted to be girly, I wanted to be pretty like the other girls at school, but I didn’t want anyone to look me. 

The hardest thing you will ever do in life, EVER, is be a teenage girl.

As an adult the tables have turned. Now instead of feeling bad about looking like a woman, I started feeling crappy about dressing like a dude. I tried to ease myself into it with a brush of mascara here and a dab of lip gloss there, and before long it turned into a full blown obsession. The more I dabbled in the beauty world, the more comfortable I became and the less I cared what other people thought of me, (good or bad). I started using my background in art to experiment with color and costume make-up, and before long I had people coming to me asking me to doll them up for this event or the other.

I’m still a bit of a tomboy; it’s just instilled in me. I keep it pretty low-key and natural on a regular basis. But even that takes more effort than it used to, what with my ever-changing skin. It’s important to remember that beauty is more than choosing the right blush or finding your favorite eyeliner. It’s about taking care of yourself and feeling good about yourself, no matter what other people think.

xoxo Melissa