HIGH GLOSS

I was in middle school when I got my first lipstick. It was Black Honey by Clinique and technically wasn’t a lipstick, it was an “Almost Lipstick.” It was a deep dark shade in the tube but glossy and sheer upon application. In the years since, I have worn my fair share of lipsticks, from matte red shades from MAC to petal pinks from Stila, but I have always loved a sheer glossy look. My favorite was Asher by the now defunct Delux Beauty, and once I found it was impossible to track down I decided it was time to look for an eco-alternative.

I love that Labello has gone Stateside under their Nivea label and I hoard their paraben-free cherry colored lip balm. It is serious hydration, great color and reminds me of the days when I was little and would pretend Cherry Chapstick was lipstick.

For a more traditional gloss, I really like
Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lip Gloss.
First off, the “worst offenders” are nowhere to be seen: zero parabens, petro-chemicals, phalates, sulfates, or synthetic fragrance. On average we ingest about four pounds of lipstick in a lifetime. The less chemicals the better, don’t you think?

With a lip brush tip instead of the usual fuzzy applicator the gloss goes on smoothly and it’s super moisturizing with its mix of oils and Cupuacu Butter. I love the neutral Rose shade which looks deceptively dark in the tube but is a subtle barely there pink with a slight shimmer when applied. It’s fabulous for day or night. With over a dozen shades in the collection, I think I’ll be heading back for a few more. xo a.

This Is A Sad Day In The World Of Beauty

After visiting one of my favorite beauty stores, Larchmont Beauty, and finding out that Nivea has decided to DISCONTINUE producing LABELLO LIP BALMS, I immediately rushed home to surf the web for leftovers of the cherry chappy - my all time favorite tinted, moisturizing chap stick that leaves lips naturaly colored and kissably smooth sans that waxiness found in every other chap stick around. (pictured!!!!)

Sadly, the cherry flavor is unavailable on Amazon, Shopzilla and all of the usual Canadian haunts. They have every other flavor - even strawberry - but cherry has mysteriously disappeared from every retail site. Not only is Nivea discontinuing production of Labello and calling everything "Nivea," they're not even making a cherry chappy!

This is SO sad. I am beside myself. If you know of any place, ANY place, that is still selling the last round of Labello cherry, please email me or leave a comment below!!!!

Help the beauty whore!

What products have been discontinued that left you distraught?

UPDATE: I found someone in the UK who is selling packaged Labello Cherry chappies and bought a bunch, then paid 18 dollars for delivery!

The Calm After the Storm

New Years holiday was a blast. I would have posted sooner but I've been recuperating. I spent five days in Florida with my dear friend Kimberly Stewart. We started off the trip in Palm Beach where I hung out and beauty shopped with hair-crazed Jenny. Then we ventured to Miami for the big New Years Eve bash (and stayed for about 24 hours). I returned back to Los Angeles on the 1st and it has literally rained every day since!

Florida left my skin very tan and my hair very blonde. I used spf 30 on my face and pranced around in a straw hat and yet I still came home with blotchy dark spots from the sun!!! I have decided to up the spf to a 40 for my next tanning adventure!

As far as make-up is concerned, while lounging poolside, less is more. My advice: invest in a great sunblock, a hydrating lippy with a dash of color, a black mascara, a fun hat and a kick-ass pair of shades (mine are vintage gold... love them!)

I kept my beauty routine very very simple. MD Forte Aftercare Environmental Protection Cream SPF 30 on my face, my very favorite au natural, vacation go-to chap stick, Labello in cherry, for my lips. It provides the perfect splash of red and yet it still moisturizes! And for my eyes, my new must-have mascara... Fresh Supernova. I'll be doing an entire post on this incredible product later today. But I will say this - I convinced Kim, Jenny and guest-blogger, Di, to purchase the mascara and so far, no complaints from anyone!

Here's a pic of my straw hat, my kick-ass shades, and Labello-glossed lips tanning poolside/ beach side in Palm Beach (yes, that was the view that I woke up to EVERY morning... sigh):



As for NYE make-up, here's what I used:

• MAC Eye Shadow Quad in Gentle Fume - 4 sultry greys and blacks to produce the perfect silver smokey eye.
• MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack - I was going for the dramatic cat eye liner look. This MAC liner is malleable and very easy to navigate. I lined the bottom of my eyes with MAC Soft Sparkle Eye Pencil in Night Sky, a black pencil infused with silver sparkles - perfect for party eyes!
  
• Nars Outlaw for my cheeks with a dash of MAC Northern Light Skin Finish to highlight my cheek bones.
• On my lips, I wanted glossy and nude. I chose MAC Lustre Glass in Instant Gold AND MAC Lustre Glass in A37 from the Holiday Curiosities Kit.
• And, of course, I finished it all off with about 8 coats of Fresh Supernova Mascara!

Here's a pic from NYE:


Kimberly actually designed that AMAZING dress that I'm wearing... I love having talented friends!!!


On Kim's lips, my new favorite red lippy from MAC's Originals collection, Russian Red, an absolute god-sent red hue! (that's it pictured on the left!)



Well, that's all for now! Hope you had a beauty-full Holiday!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Tonight I am returning to California (Los Angeles) after a three month jaunt on the East Coast (New York City). I'm a pretty low-maintenance flyer - give me a seat next to a window, my own TV and a Klonopin and I'm good. If I allow my mind to wander to those frightening places, I do think about the fact that I am breathing recycled air for five in a half hours - this can't be good for the immune system or the skin....
So this is how I ready myself pre-flight:
I ALWAYS carry hand lotion in my bag. Current Choice: C. O. Bigelow Dr. Hiosous Quince Hand Lotion - non-greasy and effective. I don't need to apply a million times - once does the trick!
I ALWAYS bring my own liter-size bottle of Evian water.
I ALWAYS take Airborne (I prefer the lemon-lime flavor) an hour before the flight is slated to depart.
I ALWAYS use an astringent, face moisturizer and eye cream before I leave my house. Current Choices: Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion; Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Creme Anti-Oxidant Formula SPF 15; Shiseido Benefiance Revitalizing Eye Cream - sooooo moisturizing it's like candy for your eyes... yummy!
I ALWAYS carry my Labello Cherry Lip Balm - it moisturizes without any goo or shine and adds a dab of red color to your pout (just because your traveling doesn't mean that you have to look insipid!)
And a great tip from my hair fanatic friend, Jenny Cohen, slather your nose with Neosporin - I know, it sounds a little suspect, but it actually aids in fighting off infections from the dry, reprocessed airplane air.
And lastly, I ALWAYS bring my oversized Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses to ward off wandering eyes (and to shield my own eyes from those nasty fluorescent lights!)
So farewell for now - see you back on the West Coast....
What's your pre-travel beauty regimen? email us!