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

A Not Late for Work Morning Routine

I've got my routine down to a science pretty much. I know if I don't stick with the schedule I won't have time to walk the doggies before work and then they poo on the carpet and then I get in trouble. So things are pretty strict, beauty-wise. For instance, I don't have time to painstakingly apply liquid eyeliner in that cute pin-up way I so covet. I'm too slow. It takes about seven Q-tips worth of clean up and my crinkly eyelids crinkle in that un-cooperative way and next thing I know I'm calling in sick because the stress of my eye make-up has given me a mini-stroke.
Thus, the routine:

In the morning I don't actually wash my face. I rinse in the shower and then moisturize (See previous skin care post). I use a foundation brush to blend a scant amount of Clinique Even Better Foundation, mostly on the center of my face. Note:

(Red nose + red cheeks + red chin + red forehead)x = No Bueno/Not Pretty

If you solved for "x" in that equation, (and got an A++ in Pre-Calc like I did), the answer on your beauty calculator would be x= environmental stimuli of any type. Heat, cold, sun, a gentle balmy breeze--all these things just make my face redder. So even if I'm having a clear skin day, I still like to tone down the tomatoface. So everyone doesn't think I'm just sitting there mortified about something all day. (Maybe I am sitting there mortified, but you'd never know because I have a lovely foundation on :)

The next bits are easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. With my finger I apply a bit of Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit, (which evens out my eyelids and gives them a nice sheen).
I smudge a little dark brown liner into the outer corners of my lashes on the top, (I like Clinique Quickliner in Dark Chocolate or Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Bourbon. Then I have fun with some black mascara. My favorite, favorite mascara, for it's buildability, non-clumpivity, no-flakocity staytastic-ness (all those are words, look them up), is Clinique Naturally Glossy. Go buy it.

And seriously, that's about it. But it is summer so I am a little bronzer-happy lately. I do usually slap a bit of that on too, time permitting. As I said though, I already have plenty of ruddiness in the ol' cheeks so I have to be careful with products in that region.

I toiled to find the greatest and best bronzer in the world and I do believe I now own it. It is a waterproof, cream bronzer that smells like the beach, Too Faced Aqua Bunny. I blend a tad just below my cheekbones with my fingers. Then I pause for a moment of morning serenity whilst quasi-creepily sniffing my coconut scented fingers.
And because I'm a damn FOOL for cute packaging as well as lovely scents, I'll dust on just a hint of rose fragranced Coralista blush by Benefit, mostly as a nice, sheer highlighter. I appreciate that it does add a certain glow to my complexion without making me lobster face-y.

But seriously, that's it. Except for powder, I will dust my forehead with some powder for fear of US government agents pulling me aside during the day and asking if I would please consider solving the country's oil crisis with my T-zone. So a little powder keeps the wolves/oil at bay. Now remember, this is a day at the office so the mere SPF 15 that my foundation humors me with is sufficient. I will delve further into the SPF abyss later..

Okay, so pop some Softlips on your kisser and you're set to make all the construction boys do double takes as you saunter down the street looking wicked pretty, off to your big day at work!

--Noella

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

A Tale of Two Ittie-Bitties

It all started with those adorable little Sephora sample jars. Had I but known a year ago that you could simply ask a sales girl to give you something for free and they’d do it—I would need a kiddie pool to store all of my wee loot in. As of now, I just learned this helpful nugget a couple of weeks ago and I have a modest collection of 8 sample jars. Not just from Sephora, either. Did you know that Clinique, M.A.C, Origins and all of those Macy’s counters will just hand you over a tiny, adorable taste of whatever product you want for FREE? I don’t know how I missed that train but I’m certainly on it now!

I needed a new moisturizer. Nothing against Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, ever—it has stood by me faithfully for years. But as I reach my late-mid-twentysomethings it has become clear (the situation is clear, not my face, or I wouldn’t have this issue…clearly) that I need more nourishing hydration.

The Pixiwoo girls recommended Embryolisse which I love, but it is a tad too rich for my oily T-zone in summer (I knew it would be, but those beauties have me so wrapped around their YouTube channel and blog they could say it’s great to use just a dab of cat shit to tint your eyebrows and I’d do it). So I went sample-jar crazy until by fortuitous luck a combination of two new moisturizers struck a chord with my face. 

The first winner is Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. Now I was the first person on the phone, (yes, I ordered it by phone, that’s how long ago it was), at the end of the Bare Escentuals infomercial to get my hands on the Bare Minerals starter kit with the swirl, tap, buff mineral foundation and the “handy buki” brush and all that. I gradually moved on to different products over the years, but I loved my time with Bare Minerals.

I trust Leslie (I’ve watched so many of her tutorials I feel like we’re on a first name basis) and her company to have gentle ingredients that aren’t going to irritate my irritable face. This moisturizer is packed with their proprietary ActiveSoil Complex and about 10 plant extracts from sunflower to olive, Lavender to soy. Though it isn’t oil free, it absorbs very quickly and leaves my face feeling nourished and plumped. I have definitely noticed a difference in the texture of my sometimes rough and bumpy cheeks. Overall redness has subsided as well. I mostly rub this one into my cheeks and neck at night. The tiniest bit on my cheeks does the trick in the morning but for mainly for daytime I found…

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. I knew I would love this but I still opted for the sample first, since the stuff is dear as gold bullion ($34 for 1.7oz, sigh). The good news is only a scant dab of Moisture Surge magically smooths and luxuriously cushions my face. You need, seriously, half as much as you are going to initially try to put on. So the jar is going to last. This one is oil-free, yet very refreshing and nourishing. It feels so light whilst still giving enough moisture. Like a splash of cool, pink water. At first glance you’ll think it’s a jar of your grandma’s cold cream but forgive the frumpy packaging and trust me. Wait, don’t trust me, just go get a sample of your own. Then, thank me.

-Noella

Danger's My Middle Name

What did I miss? Four days out of the ol' timezone and I'm lost! So seeing the west coast for the first time was certainly epic, but MUCH more importantly ;o) the two treasures I ordered early last week actually made it to me in time to lovingly pack and bring to California.

It's kind of a big deal, it's like your first period, your first kiss, your first love...that's right it's your first M.A.C lipstick! And this week my M.A.C lipstick cherry was popped by the enigmatic Lady Danger. Call it coral, call it orange, call it clown shoe, I don't care. I am in love with it. Not only does the tube have a nice, prestigious weight in your palm but it smells nice and actually stays on your lips! Seriously it feels nice and doesn't dry your pucker out, yet maintains for hours. Oh, so that's what it's like when you spend more then $3.99 for a lip product, weird!


The second gem I splurged on arrived just in the nick of time, the afternoon before we left. This was another first for me, an Urban Decay Shadow Box. Of course the Naked palette is on my Christmas list this year (and it should be on yours, too), but the Preen palette was on sale and definitely has the colors to tide me over. These shadows are silky smooth, divinely luminous (not sparkly) and really do stay all day. I am thrilled to be trying out UD's Primer Potion for the first time as well after hearing legendary things about it's eyeshadow staying-power-ocity-ness. How do I know it works amazingly well so soon? See photo.

Epic Laguna Beach wedding ceremony = weeping openly in 80 degree heat and sun. I was honored with the privilege of doing the bride's eye make up (I used Smog and Toasted from the Preen Shadow Box) and along with some steadfast UD Bourbon 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil and our trusty Primer Potion kept the make-up where it needed to be, (not rubbed off on new husband's chest).
It was a gorgeous setting, simple ceremony, presided over by yours truly-- thank you, thank you hold your applause for the end please--and all eye make up endured, even through the heat and tears. You may applaud now.

--Noella

Thank You!

Oh, hey! We jumped from three to eight followers today! Pretty cool! (Even if I am one of the new followers. Shhh!) We have ten "likes" on Facebook, and we now have two YouTube subscribers! I guess that means we will have to make some videos when Noella returns from sunny Shangri-L.A.!

 

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