Pregnancy Glow: Revealed!

Over the past 9 months, I've gotten many compliments on my "glowing" skin. I must admit, while the sentiments are truly lovely, in all honesty, I can't attribute my glow to the little man inside. I've decided to reveal my secret to you to make sure you're not mislead to think pregnancy = automatic glow. Read: "don't get pregnant just for the glow!" Most days my skin appears pretty dull sans makeup because of the limited sleep (interrupted every two hours for bladder breaks) I'm getting. Without a few key products, I'm absolutely NOTHING...

If you're an avid reader of this blog, you've already learned that my heart belongs to the following staples to prep the face {post moisturizer}:

1st: Foundation - Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

2nd: Under Eye "pick-me-up" - Chanel Stylo Eclat Lumiere

3rd: And for that GLOW, I use Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in "Aruba."

4th: Add your blush (I use BB) either on the apples or in an upward, sweeping motion across the cheeks.

There you have it folks. While being pregnant makes me beam with delight, the glow is up for grabs!

Go make your own  :  )

pics via In Style

Vampy, not Trampy

The most recent installment of the Twilight saga has introduced the vamp look as a summer staple. I can't remember the last time I saw so much dark nail polish, eye shadows and lips, in the middle of July, but I won't argue with style. In order to avoid going overboard, I say pick one part to play up: eyes or lips. To achieve Kristen's gorgeous eyes, the NARS team used:

Pandora Duo Eyeshadow & Zardoz Cream Eyeshadow

Leighton Meester at Paris Fashion Week, the Chanel haute couture show.

Stunning!

To get Jessica Alba's lipstick look try:

NARS Damned Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, NARS Marnie Lip Liner

or

Chanel Creme Lipstick in Vamp

For Eyes:

NARS Duo Eye Shadows

For Nails:

I just bought this and am totally in love...

For an Even Facial Complexion:

I recommend this product to EVERYONE. It's my #1 favorite item of makeup and should be in everyone's bags.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

photos: NARS Facebook Fan page, DailyMail UK

Spring Hair Style

I'd like to introduce you to my new hairstyle.  I recently spotted Jennifer Aniston wearing the absolute latest in hair accessories, the bobby pin, and immediately fell in love.  I let my hair get a little dirty {post one day wash} and parted it the opposite way it falls naturally.  Then I grabbed the upper, side portion of the crown and pinned it right in place.

Voilà!

The Skin{ny} Part I: The Moisture Trifecta

My dear friend, Liz, of It's Unbeweavable! fame has paid me quite the compliment. She recently requested that I do a how-to post on my skin. This was kind of the most fabulous request I've ever received. Her comment went a little something like this:

Can I do a reader/stalker/obsessed fan request?

Your skin is ahhhmazing like O-FACE glow all the time, so gorgeous...

can you do a how-to?

K thxbai.

Don't we all just LOVE her? Yeah, she's just THAT cool.

{moi}

So, I decided to break these skin posts up into a weekly segment. I started writing this and realized I'd never fit everything into one post. So, keep tuned right here for weekly TBF skin tips. Please use the comment section to direct your questions to me. Also feel free to comment with any products you love {pertaining to the post topic}. We all love to know what's worked!

My knowledge is a result of personal trial and error and based on about 20 years of costly research with a sole participant. I am happy to help in any way I can. Without further adieu...

Post One:

The Moisture Trifecta

The moisture trifecta is CRUCIAL for achieving fabulous, glowing, quick romp in the sack skin. I personally believe moisture is the only way to get down to the bottom of problem skin and the way to amp up dull skin.

1) Water, water, water

First and foremost...water. Water is ultimately going to hydrate you from the inside out. I suggest drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily. If you hate the taste of water, add some lemon (slices of cucumber in water actually flushes out toxins and assists in weight loss) or try mixing a teeny bit of juice for flavor. Also, if you're a coffee drinker, you must make sure to drink responsibly: for every cup of coffee you consume, please drink 2x that amount of water. Coffee is great to wake you up, and there have even been some studies that prove caffeine keeps skin cells young, but you must know that it severely dehydrates the body. Make up for lost fluids by drinking lots of water.

2) Moisturizer

In my opinion, A GOOD moisturizer is the best present you can give your skin. If you start young, apply religiously and often, you will end up saving yourself a lot of heartache and botox dollars later on. Over the years I have tried many...too many to mention. Moisturizers are very personal and most target specific skin types. If you have questions about what products to try, I recommend starting with a skin consult with an aesthetician to find out what skin type you have. Allure magazine publishes a top 100 product list every year which I keep in my wallet for quick reference when I shop. Here's a link to it: Allure Best of Beauty 2009. I am currently using day and night moisturizers by Skin Ceuticals {and loving them}. I always order skincare from an online store, skinstore.com. Once you know what you like, stick with it. Order things in advance so you don't run out and have to use year old samples in a pinch. They also give a maj-ah discount to members, 20% off, so definitely take advantage of this!

3) Hydrating Masks

One of life's simplest pleasures. Applying a moisturizing mask 1-2 times a week is something I believe in quite passionately. It's not only incredibly soothing, but also very important to saturate your skin with moisture from all ends. The mask works directly on your cells and really gets that GLOW going. One of my favorite things to do is: shower, put hair up in a bun to dry and apply a mask. It makes me feel so old Hollywood glamour. First clean your skin and dry it. Next, apply the mask, with clean fingers or a clean makeup brush. Then, get comfortable, crank up the Ella Fitzgerald and grab a VOGUE to just relax for a bit. Feel the mask working on your face like a thousand teeny facialists primping and pruning those cells. I love my Ling Moisturizing Mask and while they recommend leaving it on for 20 minutes, I like to sleep in it. If you have oily or acne prone skin, choose a clay or clarifying mask to treat the blemishes.

To sum up:

- Moisturizing your skin is a way of turning back the clock.

- It's never too early or too late to start.

- Find a few products that work and stick with them.

- Too much moisture is never ever enough.

Next week: "Lifestyle Choices That Enhance Your Skin"

pics via: here, miss at la playa, christy turlington by juergen teller, stam on studded hearts

Get the Look: Fabulous Steel Blue Eyes

I saw this photo of Anne Hathaway in August's InStyle & nearly fainted. Her steel blue shadow is exactly what I want to be wearing come Fall, to accompany a long grey cashmere sweater, black leather belt, black leggings and my imaginary Balmain black zippered booties. {I threw in a photo of them for drooling purposes.}

Le sigh...OK ladies, back to the makeup.
This look is guaranteed to make your eyes pop, no matter what color you have. Just look at what it does for Anne's brown stunners. Gorg!

Shopping List
{suggestions by Genevieve Herr, InStyle}:

Eye Shadow:
NARS Duo Eyeshadow, $32, Sephora, SAKS
{Seen above: so rich in pigment, it will last forever & never disappoint}

Mascara:
1. First apply a rich black shade, my favorite being DIOR, Diorshow {you probably know that I am a fanatic for this mascara by now!}

2. Then apply your favorite blue-ish mascara just to the TIPS of the lashes. Herr suggests Lancome Definicils in Navy. {I suggest it too!}

If you try the look, take some pics & send them to me! I would love to see your gorgeous faces all dolled up!

Photo credit of Anne via here
Balmain boots are available for purchase at Net-a-porter for only $1,975

Troy Jensen {The Michelangelo of Makeup}

Jensen is a true makeup artist who creates stunning looks for

the Kardashian klan, Rachel McAdams, Angelina
Jolie, Jennifer Lopez & Rachel Bilson.
He was recently crowned brand ambassador for Q-Tips!

Lucky for us, he shares all beauty secrets...
If you love these looks as much as I do, click on
each photo to read the corresponding tutorial on his blog.

His site might be the best thing since NARS Orgasm.

{not your everyday look, but amazing to read how he did this!}

All photos from Troy Jensen's blog

*Also, today is the last day to sign up for the 100th post giveaway! Make sure to sign up as a follower or click on the icon in the upper right corner for more details!*

Get the Look: The Elegant Bronze Eye

After spotting these glamorous bronze eyes in Allure,
I decided to try the look out for myself.

I love this look for formal affairs like a black tie wedding.
When accompanied with a black dress, classic jewels &
some knock out heels, you might give the bride a run
for her money!

What I used, aka The Shopping List

{All from Bobbi Brown}:

1. Eye Shadow
-Base: Long Wear Cream Shadow in Beach Honey
-All over lid: Metallic Eye Shadow in Burnt Sugar
-Highlight under brow: Shimmer Was Eye Shadow in Champagne
-Dab of light in inner eye: Long Wear Cream Shadow in Bellini

2. Eyeliner {use Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush}
-Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Mahogany Ink

TIPS:

a. trick is to dab a small amount onto brush & wipe off most of product, use very little & run brush gently back and forth along your eye line.

b. To make eyes look wider, start from inner corners of eyes & bring line all the way out {even a little further than natural eye}. Line bottom, but do not line water line {inside the eye} if your eyes are not large.

3. Mascara
-I always use DIOR, DIORSHOW in Black {6M}

4. Concealer {Under Eye}
-Creamy Concealer in Warm Ivory
{Put concealer & powder underneath the eyes to prevent makeup from running down face}

Step Away From the Black Eyeliner...{Go Metallic!}

This weekend, why not replace your black eye liners for a little sparkle?
Try shades of gold for blonde hair & silver for brunettes.
If you're adventurous, try anything in between!

Let's get the look:

shu uemura painting liner in silver or gold
MAC Glitter eyeliner in her glitz or glitterpuss
NARS glitter pencil in mudd club or danceteria

Reminder: If you opt for a metallic liner, make sure to use a killer mascara.
I always suggest DIOR DIORSHOW.

Photos via InStyle, Glamour, Elle & Photobucket

Here's to You! {Ms. Elaine Robinson}

With wedding season in full bloom, I have my eyes on the prettiest makeup trends for those blushing brides. I watched The Graduate this past weekend & became enamored by Katherine Ross' look {& Dustin Hoffman's boyish haircut/grin}.

To create those soft, innocent doe eyes, pile on the false eyelashes, add two coats of a voluminous black mascara & finish with a deep, black eyeliner. Next, dust a barely-there pop of pink blush right to the cheeks for a subtle lift. A nude, natural lip will complete this 'summer-of-love' glamorous bridal look. Check below for the complete shopping list!!

Shopping List:
Eyes:
Falsies: shu uemura False Eyelashes in Slant Black
Liner: Le Metier de Beaute Precision Liquid Eyeliner, Noir
Mascara: DIORSHOW, L'Oreal Voluminous,
YSL 'Everlong'
Face:
Blush: NARS Orgasm,
Bobbi Brown Apricot, Nectar or Pale Pink
Lips:
Juicy Tubes Smoothie Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss in Spring Fling {An Angelina Jolie staple}
or
Lancome Color Fever Lipstick in Old Flame {worn by Kate Winslet at the Oscars}

Photo Creds: from all across the internet/flickr- photo #2 is from Vanity Fair.

Getting Gorgeous: Copper + Mauve Smoky Eye

It's been awhile since I actually posted about makeup & I have received several requests to bring it back. I saw this photo of Michelle Trachtenberg {or Gossip Girl's own resident psycho, Georgina} on the Glamour Beauty Blog & thought she looked quite stunning.

I pulled together some of the things you will need to get her look. I think it's such a glamorous smoky eye. I can't wait to try it myself!

Who wants it?

Lid:
MAC, Satin Taupe
Stila, Kitten
Liner:
1. Lancome Le Crayon Kohl, Black
2. Stila, Bronze Smudge Pot
Mascara:
DIOR, DiorShow in Rich Black
Face:
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
NARS, Orgasm Blush
Lips:
Estée Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick, Honey Pink

*Trick is to first line eyes w/black. Then apply bronze color with slanted brush over it.
Smudge, smudge, smudge...smudge, smudge, smudge*

Photos of Michelle Trachtenberg via Glamour: Girls in the Beauty Department

Get the look: Elegant Summer Ponytail

To get the latest L'Oréal brand representative, Evangeline Lilly's no fuss, sexy ponytail, check out below. Watch me try out this look in my DIY hair tutorials this summer!

To get an elegant evening ponytail that's not severe and has texture, spritz dry hair with water and comb a dollop of medium-hold gel through your hair before pulling it back into a style like Evangeline Lilly sported in Cannes.

—Polly Blitzer (via InStyle website)

Song in my head now: Kate Nash, Merry Happy
{if you don't know this song, it is worth the download...her accent is beyond fun to try to sing along with}