More fabulous makeup savings! Too Faced, they of the fun, bold colors and girly retro packaging, is currently having a Friends & Family sale, now through December 3rd. Just enter the code TFFriends at checkout and receive 25% Off your entire online order. Check out the awesome gift sets in their Holiday/Christmas 2008 collection, or score even bigger savings by using the code on any of the items in their already discounted vintage section. I love the glitter liners in the Starry Eyed set - perfect stocking stuffers!

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Despite my halfhearted efforts to convince myself that America's Next Top Model is no longer compelling, I just can't kick the ANTM habit! And, after weeks and weeks of breathless anticipation, tonight is the night; as Tyra would say, "Who will be America's Next Top Model?"

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Discussing curly hair yesterday with a fellow actress, we were lamenting about how our naturally wavy hair looks great when we are living in LA and how when visiting family in more humid environments for the holidays (me, Florida; her, Tennessee) we forget that our hair doesn't do the same styles that we have gotten used to. She swears by Alterna Hemp with Organics Texturizing Glaze. The product was used on her for a job once and she was skeptical when it was whipped out to tame her hair. But, of course, it worked wonders! Now she uses it any time she needs to control her waves. When she was visiting family a few weeks ago she would wash her hair, slather on some Alterna and go - a feat that is not easily achieved under normal circumstances. I'm picking up a bottle before I head to Florida for Thanksgiving next week!

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Get ready to save big on Stila Cosmetics! Now through December 16th, you'll get 20% Off all online orders and receive free shipping on any order over $30 when you enter the code ECYX12 at checkout. Now is the time to try out one of Stila's new Talking Palettes, which include 4 eye shadows (I like the Platinums) and a helpful application tutorial that you can listen to with the push of a button. Or you could take your cue from Meagan's wishlist and pick up the universally flattering, multitasking Cherry Crush, a pretty, nourishing lip and cheek stain in a portable click pen. Enjoy!

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It's been a good two weeks since Election Night, and my infatuation with Michelle Obama's keen sense of style is still going strong. Looks like I'm not the only one: If you're also jonesing for an update on what the future First Lady has been wearing lately, check out Mrs.-O.org, a website devoted to tracking Michelle's sartorial choices. Current topics of discussion range from speculation regarding which designer will have the honor of dressing Mrs. O for the inauguration to a look at her affinity for Lanvin ballet flats. Personally, my favorite Michelle fashion moment is still this bright purple Mario Pinto sheath, neatly belted and accessoried with a black cardigan, low black heels and pearls, but I have high hopes for January 20th! Can't wait to see what she'll wear next...

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How could you, OPI?!

I was so excited about the concept of a brand new nailpolish collection inspired by the '90s melodrama's classic characters (Brenda, Kelly, Donna, et. al.) - but now All Lacquered Up is reporting that the polishes, which won't be out until January, are based on the new series...and there will only be three colors in the collection to boot. Queen of West Web-erly, a purple shimmer, is the most promising of the three, while the other two are different shades of red ("lollipop" and "ruby," to be exact). Only three colors, two of which are red, and none of them based on the original series? Meh.

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If Nine West's fall advertising campaign is to be believed, we're going to be seeing lots of thigh highs this season. In my mind, the heyday of the thigh high was sometime circa 1996 - around the time Clueless came out and the sexy schoolgirl look was all the rage. Back then, thigh highs were usually paired with miniskirts, Mary Janes and a tiny backpack in lieu of a purse - and they were usually spotted on teenagers. I haven't really given thigh highs much serious fashion thought since then, but I am really digging the way they look in the Nine West ads. For instance, this sexy head-to-toe-purple look at left; The model looks divine in various shades of plum, and the brief flash of skin between the tops of her stockings and the hem of her dress is a nice way to break up the monotony of the monochromatic color scheme. I also love the way they layered shorter socks over thigh highs in the shoe and bag shot below. If you're a little shy about thigh highs, you could try pairing them with a flat, knee-high boot to keep the look casual instead of vixenish, or you could rock a textured pair of thigh highs over some opaque stockings. And if you're in the market for thigh highs, stockings or socks of any kind, may I remind you of the fabulous Sock Dreams website? Whether you're looking for something sexy and feminine or comfy and subtle, Sock Dreams has your back.

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Nylon has given us a peek at Prada's latest collection of bags and shoes called Special Stones. Now, I'm as much of a Prada fan as the next girl, but something is not setting right for me when I look at these. Everything is under $1000, which is still ridic, but it is Prada. And I love the jewel-tone colors of the collection but...I'm not too keen on the actual jewels. It looks like someone found their old Bedazzler and went to town with it. But that's just me. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

 

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A good way to start off a Monday is to find out about a good sale to take you through the week.  Now through Wednesday (11/19), you can get 25% off J.Crew's regularly priced shoes and boots if you enter SHOESALE when checking out.  I love J.Crew's shoes, but they are a little expensive for me, so a sale like this is one I like to jump on.  If you're looking for a new pair of pumps or flats or boots or sandals (you get the idea) then now is the time to scoop some up!  

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If you're into the idea of shorter hair but not quite sure you're ready to take the plunge, why not pin your long locks up into a faux bob next time you're getting ready to go out? This will give you the opportunity to see if you dig yourself with a bob (or, better yet, the new, longer bob!) without the risk of scissor shock. 

How to Fake a Bob (courtesy of Self, October '08, p.84):

01. Divide hair into two sections in the back.

02. Tightly roll the ends of each section under until it hits midneck (or grazes the shoulders, or wherever you want your new hair to hit!).

03. Crisscross bobby pins over ends to secure.

04. Finish by feathering layers over the bob to make it look natural.

Even if you end up deciding that you don't want the look longterm, you now have a new hairstyle in your arsenal for special occasions...and who doesn't love a change now and then?

 

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I found a collection of antiquated beauty advice and it fascinated me so much, I wanted to share! I'll bring you a little nugget each Friday.

Today's nugget:

"To cure pimples: Take a fairly full breath and hold it momentarily while contracting the abdominal muscles and straining lightly. This brings a flush to the cheeks and fills the capillaries of the skin, insuring a better skin circulation. Standing on the head will have the same effect as the exercise given, and is worth a try." Home Health Manual 1930

And it is definitely worth clicking on the picture to see and read the Palmolive ad from 1924. Of course, this all has me thinking: While these crazy advices and ads seem old-fashioned, have we really come that far? Discuss...

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Here is just a taste of what's to come from Hayden-Harnett's line for Target. If this clutch is any indication, it is safe to say I'm a HUGE fan. The line launches December 28th but I'm trying to not jump on couches yet, since I've been burned by Target's bag diffusion lines in the past. But I can't help the love I feel for the coin pouch on the side and the bronze studs and the chain wristlet. I love how it looks big enough to fit all of my essentials perfectly and how it also looks small enough to throw in a larger bag when I need to tote more. And Hayden-Harnett has some really cute larger bags in the collection. Check out their Flickr account for more exciting bags and mark your calendars...these could very well sell out quickly!

And before you go, here's an umbrella from their line that is making me pray for rain:

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If you have been with us for awhile, then you know I love Bare Minerals.  If you're new, now you know, I love Bare Minerals.  So I was pretty excited to read some Bare Minerals tips on Beauty and the Blog from makeup artist, Bravon Pascua:

1.  When you are applying Bare Minerals foundation, apply lightly and let it set for 5 to 10 minutes, so that it "melts into your skin."  Bare Minerals is supposed to be like a "second skin," so less is more.  This is huge for me because I've noticed that my foundation has been more noticeable lately, which I attributed to my skin becoming more dry with the season.  This is going to be a great way to combat that chalky look.

2.  Apply your concealer before your foundation for a more natural look.  I don't know about you, but I always do it the other way around.  But this totally makes sense and I can't wait to switch my routine up!

 

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Here's something I never would've thought of on my own: According to Cosmo, applying deodorant at night (i.e., before bed) is way more effective than putting it on in the morning, after you shower (i.e., the way most of us do it). This is due to the fact that "your skin is calm and dry at night, {so} deodorant can penetrate deeply into sweat ducts." (Cosmo, September 2008, p.117) What's more, the deodorant will continue to work well into the next day, even if you take a shower in the morning. I decided to give this a go last night, and guess what? It worked! I've been remarkably dry all day. Plus, I kind of enjoyed the French Lavender smell of my favorite deodorant as I drifted off to sleep! I'm planning to rock my deodorant before bed from now on. Give it a try and let me know if it works for you too!

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*With the holidays coming up, a trip to the spa may be what you need to de-stress. You might even get a trip as a gift! With that in mind, here is a little story about what happened to me in March...

 

I have to share with you my spa experience from yesterday that was both refreshing and a little bit humiliating at the same time....

I'm a bit of a facial novice. I've gotten two in my life and yesterday I got my third. I decided to go to Ole Henriksen because I read in Glamour that this is where all the supermodels trust their million-dollar faces. It was a shameless write up that got me hook, line and sinker. So I called and made an appointment and the very helpful receptionist told me I could arrive 20 minutes early and enjoy a complimentary steam. I thanked her but knew I wasn't going to do that. I've never "steamed" before and I really didn't know what it was about. But then as I was getting ready to go yesterday I was looking up the actual address of the spa and I came across a Citysearch article saying to "not miss the complimentary eucalyptus steam" and to bring a bikini because it's co-ed. So at the very last minute I decided to arrive early. I threw my bikini top in my bag, I put my bikini bottoms on as my underwear and off I went.

I got there about fifteen minutes early and let them know I was interested in the steam and I was given a locker and a robe and shoes. The steam room was down the hall and they started it for me while I changed. So I got out of my clothes, put on the bikini top, robed up, walked down, took a towel, de-robed and opened the steam room door. The steam was so thick that it was like an impenetrable wall. I couldn't see a damn thing. If there was anyone else in the room, I wouldn't know it. Here is what went through my mind: Ok, how am I going to find where to sit? Should I leave the door open and try to let some of the steam escape? But what if someone else is in here, relaxing? Wouldn't they be upset about the loss of steam? Well, they would probably be more upset about me sitting on them due to my steam blindness. So I walked out of the room, contemplating my choices. I decided I would try to find the wall to the left of the door and from there try to find a seat. And then I thought, are you supposed to stand in a steam room? This was clearly more stressful than relaxing for me. I opened the door, became blind again and felt along until I found a seat. And then I decided I was alone in the room, which made me feel better. But still a little tense from the whole blindness thing. I tried to relax and close my eyes - they said they would come get me when my facialist was ready. So I could relax, right? Wrong. There was no relaxing for me. It was unbearably hot and condensation was running down my body. I'm not sure if it was my sweat or just the steam clinging to me. I hoped it was sweat because I think that's the point of the steam room. I think I made it about five minutes before the claustrophobia of the steam blinding and the heat overwhelmed me and I had to leave. There was a shower right outside of the room, so I jumped in there, to wash off the hopeful sweat and went back to change.

But when I got to the locker room I realized I wasn't sure if I was supposed to change back or if I was supposed to stay in my robe. The girl had mentioned something about a private waiting room after my steam, but....I wasn't sure, so I decided to change. Which is when I realized I didn't have any underwear to put on. That wasn't part of my planning and now I had a wet bikini bottom. I actually had an entire wet bikini and a small bag that really shouldn't get wet. So I got dressed (going commando) and looked around the locker room for some sort of plastic bag. Surely other people have wet bikinis? There was nothing. So in another desperate move, I took a small plastic cup, stuffed my bikini in it, covered the open part with a papertowel, carefully placed the cup in my bag and went back to the front to let them know I was "done steaming."

Ok. So this whole fifteen minutes was full of learning lessons and self-induced humilation.

Lessons learned:
1. Bring a plastic baggie for your wet bikini.
2. If the steam room isn't "on" before you go in, maybe ask to wait to put it on until you're ready so you can maybe not be scared from blindness.
3. It's a spa - hang out in your robe! But bring an extra pair of undies for post-steam...but just put on your robe and go to the private waiting area. For facials you take everything off from the waist up any way...

Self-induced humilations:
1. Take your pick

The actual facial though was pretty amazing. It lasted an hour and fifteen minutes and I felt completely pampered. At Ole Henriksen (pronounced O-la), they do an "eight-step" facial that is tailored to your specific skin needs. So while Maka (my facialist) was smoothing on some sort of soothing cream, we were talking about what face products I use, what my skin problems are, etc., so she could figure out the best plan of action for me. And from there we went. I can't tell you all the steps she took because I was practically rendered comatose by the relaxation of it all. There's a lovely facial and shoulder massage that starts things off, which I'm a sucker for. Plus, there was an aromatic steam that was being blown in my face during most of the hour and I'm pretty sure it may have had a narcotic effect on me. What can I say? I'm easy. The neat parts that I do remember though involve the high-tech instruments she used on me. There was this vibrating, suction-y thing that was used for "Lympho-Energetic" drainage - you know...to drain my lymph. Whatever it did, I liked it. And there was the "sound-wave therapy" that was used to kill the bacteria after the "gentle extraction" of my blackheads. That Maka found black heads I never knew existed on my face. That was intense - but I loved it. It made me feel very clean - like she was removing any sort of nastiness that was hidden within my pores. And then there was the "thermodyn calming/anti-swelling cold therapy" which was another wand-like device that reduced any swelling from the extraction and is supposed to reduce the size of your pores. By the time Maka put on my face mask, I was down for the count. I could hear her say from a far away place, "I'll be back in a few minutes," but I was already drifting off to sleep. I have no idea how long I was luxuriating with the mask on, but when I woke up I was in a bit of a panic. How long had I been sleeping? Did she say she'd be back in a few minutes or was I supposed to be done and getting dressed? That would be embarrassing if I had fallen asleep when I was really supposed to be done and paying. I smiled a bit at my crazy thoughts and that was when I realized that I did, in fact, have a mask on - my skin was tight with it. Phew. Deep breath, I could relax until she got back to remove it and finish me up.

My skin felt shiny and new after the treatment and it was a wonderful way to treat myself. I was a little light-headed when I stood up to get dressed again, but in a pleasant way. You know the feeling when you've been sitting, drinking a glass of wine with friends and only when you stand up is when you realize that it is having an effect? Ahhh - that feeling. I'm already looking into other spa treatments there because to be honest, despite my naivete and self-induced humiliation, I liked getting pampered. And I want to become a spa expert instead of a spa novice. I want to steam with confidence instead of paranoia. A girl's gotta have goals....

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Here's a disturbing revelation about those profoundly unsanitary makeup testers that adorn cosmetics counters everywhere:

One researcher found high levels of bacteria, including E.coli, from fecal matter (yes, you read that right!) in samples of lipstick, eye shadow, blush, and cream taken from several different cosmetics counters. If you're getting an in-store makeover, ask for the products to be sanitized - and never put anything near your eyes, nose, or mouth that hasn't been.

(Women's Health, September 2008, p. 92)

Yikes! Personally, I've always been wary of those things. I mean, it's nice to see the makeup out of its package before you purchase it, and I will definitely smear a little lip gloss or eye shadow on my inner wrist or my hand in order to get some idea of how the shade will look against my skin, but I always balk at the sight of women who dive right in and use the testers to apply makeup to their face. Also, ladies? Wash your hands! Please!

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*This blog is an oldie-but-a-goodie from way back in February but style advice from the Oprah show is rarely out of style.   And if you are like me and are feeling the itch to revamp your wardrobe as autumn settles in, then this a great guide for the pieces every closet should hold.  Enjoy! 

 

If you caught Oprah yesterday, then you got to see Lloyd Boston give a wardrobe makeover to some women who were "shlumpadinkas." As in, they preferred sweatpants to real pants, overalls, baggy t-shirts, workout sneakers - you know how I can't stand that! - well, you get the idea. He did a great job revamping their wardrobes and what was most exciting to me was that he got their new styles from places like Old Navy and The Gap - places I keep recommending. My fave suggestion to those who like the comfort of sweatpants is to replace them with the comfy yoga pant from Old Navy. I just tried to get a picture from their website and it "can't be displayed." Oh the power of Oprah! Their site is overloaded from Oprah-watchers, I'm sure. They have the pant in capri cut though:

 

Then Lloyd gave a Top Ten list of basics every woman needs. I'm going to break it down here, because it's not in list form on Oprah's site. But here is the link if you would like to see the slideshow of examples: Top Ten

Lloyd also suggests having a fun flat that you can slip on (in lieu of the awful work out sneaker). Something in a leopard print or in a metallic or in a bright fun color. He says, "If it matches nothing, then it matches everything." Be bold and comfortable and stylish all at once!

And an oversized bag, especially one in white, is always a chic way to finish a look. White is year-round now - forget those outdated Memorial/Labor Day "rules."

Make sure you have these staples and then you can always look effortlessly pulled together!

 

 

 

 

 

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Okay, so everyone probably knows by now that green tea is good for you. It can actually speed up your metabolism, in addition to providing an excellent supply of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Also, it's delicious! (I love green tea everything, from ice cream to plain hot tea, straight up.) Plus, I've heard that replacing your morning cup of coffee with green tea is good for your skin (I've been skipping the coffee lately and yes, my skin has improved). But in addition to drinking it, green tea's skin benefits can be reaped by actually putting it on your face. Check out this "Wacky Beauty Tip" from Cosmo:

If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

I've also heard that dabbing a cool tea bag over your face is a great way to reduce the irritation of an acne flare-up, so if your face is red for any reason, try this out! You could also cut open the tea bag and make a green tea mask (eliminate the vitamin E oil if you have oily skin). Speeds your metabolism, soothes your skin, keeps you healthy, tastes great with Chinese food...green tea, is there anything you can't do!?

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It's simple:  Dusty grey velvet in a classic shape, accented by faux croc details.  But I can't stop thinking about it.  I got a catalog from Alloy in the mail yesterday and this bag has been on my mind.  It's a perfect winter bag that would hold much and go with a lot.  And the price is right - $39.50.   

 

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