Beauty and the Heat

The temperatures here are touching the triple digit zone, and it isn't pretty. Even the best intentions and beauty routines melt when confronted with a scorching and muggy reality and we need all the help we can get. Here are a few of things that help me survive days like these:

• A little color that goes a long way: I use a dab of concealer only where (and if) needed, line my eyes with a thick pencil in a rich color that does double duty as a shadow (my favorite has always been Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier in Gold Reef, but all the other colors are just as lovely. Look at the khaki one, Bangalore), black waterproof mascara (I only use them for a few days this time of the year, and the drugstores are full of good ones. I usually buy Max Factor), and finish up the look with a dark colored lip gloss (I love Chanel Glossimer in Force). Only three or four products, but it looks well put-together.

• It's the only time of the year I'm going places with my hair pulled back into a tight bun. Jonathan's Silky Dirt is keeping it shiny and in place. I'll need to write a full review soon (and probably try other products from this line).

• My flat feet can be the bane of my existence, if I let them. They get swollen in the heat which makes wearing shoes a painful ordeal. I keep my regular shoes or sandals in my beg and put them on before getting anywhere, but until that moment, I live in J. Crew's wedge flip-flops. They're much more comfortable for me than regular flat flip-flops, because they provide support and insulation from the ground, two things that the flat-footed among us know to appreciate.

• Perfume. I like to wear something that takes me away to kinder places. Reverie au Jardin from Tauer Perfume is my choice of escape. It takes me to cool, green gardens. This fragrance comes from Switzerland, which helps with the Alpine fantasy.

What's in Your Hair?

Talk about high maintenance.

This story from British paper Daily Mail puts our Fekkai, Ojon and Carol's Daughter habit in perspective. Apparently, Catherine Zeta-Jones' conditioner of choice is caviar. The real thing. Imported for her from Iran on a weekly basis.

What do you think she smells like?

(photo from DailyCeleb.Com)

Shiny

I keep my hair at around 2.5'-3'.
That's between 75-100 cm, for the non-American world.

Yes, it's long. No, it's not hard to maintain. I keep it clean and well-moisturized, and use products to keep it soft, shiny, and avoid frizz on top and around my face. Recently I've been using Fekkai's Glossing Sheer Shine Mist (try saying it quickly several times in a row). This mist is used on dry hair, unlike most of the other hair products in my arsenal.

It's definitely glossing the hair nicely and helps with frizz control tasks. I like the shiny results, even though it does somewhat weigh my hair down, not to the point of visible grease, but it opens up the curls and waves, so my guess is it's great for those who blow dry to straighten. Another benefit of this mist is help with detangling.

The one drawback is for those of us with sensitive scalps. If I'm not careful, even the tiniest amount makes my head itch.

Glossy

The one beauty-related subject that I know nothing about is hair coloring. I've never dyed or highlighted my hair, making my non-blonde mane pretty useless for testing products such as the new conditioner from Clairol.

Luckily, my friend Teresa has the right head for this, and she tested the conditioning gloss on her blond locks. Here is Teresa's review:

Every girl who dyes her hair at home knows that the last moments of the whole process are the most rewarding moments. As she slathers her hair with the contents of the tube of conditioner she found in the bottom of her hair dye box, she feels almost…self-indulgent. At that moment, her hair is as soft as it can be. That’s why when I got my tube of Nice ‘N Easy ColorSeal Conditioning Gloss in the mail, I was eager to give it a try.

Though I suppose it’s the promise of healthy and shiny hair that really matters, my first glance at the lacklustre tube of conditioning gloss leaves me disappointed. I must admit that I am one of those consumers who likes pretty packages; I am one of those fools who often buys the shampoo for its pretty container as much as for its promises. While the blue and silver tube in my hand is simple and sleek, I’ve seen this particular design inside my boxes of hair dye before. This product won’t jump off the shelf at me; it’ll take a little advertising to sell.

After putting all my strange hang-ups aside, I hop (not literally—though I am excited, there are no jumping beans in my panties!) into the shower to see what comes of actually opening the product. I read the instructions on the tube and I can say that as I put the quarter-sized amount of conditioner in my hair, I think to myself it’s about time they put this stuff on the store shelves! I’ve always wondered why they limited this stuff strictly to hair dye packages. After about a two minute wait, I rinse out my hair, and there’s that familiar but decadent sensation of touching smooth, extremely moisturized hair.

We all know that companies make promises. This time, they’ve vowed to keep my hair from “looking faded, dull and dry” just by sealing the cuticle of my hair once a week with ColorSeal Conditioning Gloss. After having tested it out, I am optimistic this time; I’ve got a little tube of conditioner that I believe in. If anything is going to protect my hair from becoming brittle and dry this winter, this could be it (I wonder if they make a facial moisturizer?) And I can use it with any of the various hair dyes I grab off the shelf—extra-light blond on the cheap? Great. Put it in the cart! (Who’s to be expected to remember which one they used last month?) At least I have the comfort of knowing that even if my hair turns green, I can still make it smooth, shiny, and soft. That might seem like a small order to some but after having been a hair dye addict for so long, I’ve done some damage to this mop of mine.

Thumbs up to Nice ‘n Easy for finally doing it.

As far as I know, this product hits the shelves next month, but looks like the good people at Drugstore.com have already got it.

Nothing's Perfect

I've been using Carol's Daughter Hair Milk for the last three weeks, and my hair has never been happier. I needed to learn just how much product (how little, actually) should be used, because this stuff, despite it's milky consistency, is very rich and moisturizing. The old cliche- a little goes a long way- is very true in this case. I'm used to loading my hair with leave-in conditioners, but if I do the same thing here I'd get s super greasy and limp hair. It's amazing, but a dollop of this is all that my extremely long and thick hair needs to stay soft and frizz free.

Because of its weight, my hair is more wavy than curly. It needs lots of moisture. Hair Milk gives it exactly that, keeps it shiny, doesn't let it puff up, but still retains the shape of the long waves and ringlets, something that most products simply can't do.

It smells better than most creams and conditioners. I love the light lemongrass scent.

However, like many other hair products, I must keep it away from my hairline. Last week I wasn't paying attention and let a little lotion contact my skin. The result was a breakout along my hair line. Three unsightly pimples that required the return of my trusty pals- Laboratoire Remède Double Oxygenating Booster and Mario Badescu Healing Cream. As far as I'm concerned, those two are miracle workers. The former kills zits like nothing else I've ever come across, without the nasty drying and flaking that accompany most drugstore products. It might take more than a single application to eliminate a really bad one, but the first results are visible after one night.

The Healing Cream does exactly what it says. It takes care of the redness and heals the skin quickly, even after a really bad pimple. Results are quick and despite its sulfuric base it doesn't stink. While I replaced most of my Badescu cleansing products with a simpler routine, followed by my favorite moisturizer, the Healing Cream is something I must have on hand. It's a skin saver.

The bottom line is that I'm going to be much more careful from now on. Carol's Daughter Hair Milk is an excellent product and does exactly what it promises. It's a great solution for anyone with thick and curly hair, and a tiny amount would solve any dryness problem. However, its side effect for those of us with more sensitive skin can be unpleasant. Not a reason enough to give it up, just apply it v-e-r-y carefully.

From Italy with Love

After my little dirty (but nice smelling) experiment, and the vigorous washing that followed, my hair has definitely earned a treat. Italian made Homocrin shampoo for dry and brittle hair was just the thing to provide it.

This shampoo is a very gentle product that has an impressive ingredient list that includes sunflowerseedamphoacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment, Aloe Vera gel, Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Chicorium Intybus, Acacia, Niacin and Lactic Acid among others. The amino acids are supposed to nourish and hydrate the hair.

It is made without irritants such as Lauryl Sulphates, Ethoxylates and Paraben and is formulated to be delicate and preserve the hair and scalp's natural balance. as someone with a sensitive scalp, I can verify this promise.

I was surprised by the shampoo's consistency. It's thinner than the products I'm used to, but still very effective. It did a great job cleaning my hair without stripping it. It felt pleasant on my scalp and worked nicely with my regular conditioner.

I liked the vanilla scent, although it is of the very foody kind. It doesn't linger and lets the conditioner and whatever styling products you use to take center stage, so I didn't end up smelling like a cookie.

Things you do for your beauty blog

I received a sample of a new and interesting product: A hair fragrance made by Pure & Petal, a Canadian company. As curious as I was about it, I couldn't use it right away. The reason? My very thick hair retains smell for a very long time, and since I use a leave-in-conditioner and quite a bit of anti-frizz goop, my hair seems to always smell of TreSemme or some version of that.

Which meant that I had to be brave and not wash it for a few days, until it finally smelled like hair and I could test the fragrance. It ended up being four days before my poor hair could be trusted as a test subject. I can't say that I was all that happy to carry around nearly 3' of unwashed hair (yes, it really is that long). I wore it up in a bun, but still.

The fragrance I tried was Linden Blossom. It combines floral and grapefruit notes, but the dominant part is linden, which I love, with just a bit of fruit. There's something watery in this scent, which I'm not too keen of, but I could only smell it on my skin. What I sprayed on my hair remain pleasantly floral.

All of P&P's fragrances are alcohol-free and do not irritate the skin or scalp (unlike not washing one's hair that made me itch like crazy, and required drastic action, like using my husband's Head & Shoulders to feel clean again). The scent stays on the hair for several hours and is very pleasant. It didn't seem to affect the look of my hair the way regular products do, so it can't replace your regular shine products. But, it's a very nice pick-me-up addition, especially if you skipped shampoo and need some extra help.

Not That Anyone Has Asked, But...

The bloggers that were featured in August's Allure were asked for their list of ten favorite products. Apparently, some of those lists were slightly altered (read this post by the Beauty Addict), but they did get to name their absolute favorites. So I've been trying to compile mine. It's not as easy it seems. I'm sort of cheating, as in certain places I picked a whole product range. But, it's my list so I make the rules...

1. Leave-in conditioners. There are several on the market and I alternate between a few. It doesn't really matter which one I use, as long as my hair gets its moisture fix. My favorites are Aveda Elixir and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch.

2. Body washes and creams from L'Occitane. I love everything that they make, in every fragrance and line. The shea butter products are wonderful in winter, mimosa is a dreamy summer scent and I also adore the Honey Harvest line. Their web site is horrible, though. You need to know exactly what you're looking for, otherwise you'll miss most of the products. So I highly recommend a trip to their nearest store.


3. Bliss Sole Train set. Everything one needs for feet (except for polish). The Diamancel Buffer is amazing (they also sell it on Drugstore.com, and their lotions and potions are wonderful. I only wish it all smelled like Rosy Toes. What's better than having your feet smell like roses?

4. Mario Badescu's seaweed night cream. I've talked about it before and can't say enough good things about this product. They sell the entire line in Nordstrom, and I also recommend taking their consultation online, because in a few weeks you will receive an envelope full of samples of products recommended for you. That's how I became a fan of their products.

5. Lancome eye liners. If I had to choose only one eye makeup product, it would have been eye liner, and if I had to narrow it to one brand it would be Lancome. The pencils and liquid in a pen are all beautiful, durable and easy to use.


6. Chanel Vitalumier foundation. I haven't succumbed to the mineral trend. I like the silky feeling of a liquid foundation and the fool-proof application. Vitalumier is semi-sheer. You get more coverage if you use more product. It blends well with my skin and has a lovely, natural finish. My color of choice is beige, and it's the best match for my skin out of the many products I've ever tried.

7. Dallas by Benefit. It's a blush and a bronzer. It gives my skin the perfect natural-looking glow and I have no idea what I used before discovering it. Well, I do know, but now I can't picture myself without it.

8. Besame Cosmetics Enchanting Lipstick in Chocolate Kiss. I've already declared it as my holy grail lip color. The more I use this reddish brown lipstick, the more I love it. It's very pigmented, the texture is perfect and the color is neutral enough to be wearable for either day or night, but still bold enough to be noticed and make a difference in my look.

9. O.P.I Start to Finish base & top coat. I've tried so many nail products. From the ubiquitous drugstore products to the top notch Lippman Collection. This is the best I've found. It's a 2-in-1 product that gives outstanding results. It makes applying polish a breeze and the manicure lasts for well over a week.

10. Perfume. My mother has taught me that you should never leave the house without putting on some perfume. I also wear it at home. It makes everything prettier and finishes off the look. I don't think that it really matters what anyone is using, as long as it's something they love and feel good wearing. I'm always looking for new ones, not as a holy grail thing, just building my fragrance wardrobe.

Battle of the Frizz

I’m not an authority on hairstyling products. For the simple reason that I don’t style my hair. It’s very long, very thick, quite healthy but demands extra moisturizing.

I’ve had different styles and lengths in the past. It was super short with eighties spikes, pixie-ish, feathered, cut into a short bob and a long bob. My hair and my face look better when it’s long. I don’t hide behind it. It’s almost an accessory that is supposed to flatter what I have. I never do bangs, as it doesn’t look good on me. I just keep it swept back, often with a side part and that’s it.

I don’t own a hair drier. You wouldn’t either if you had so much hair. I towel and air-dry it, that’s all it takes.

Here’s what I do use:
I alternate between TRESemme shampoo and conditioner for dry/damaged hair and the stuff by Biolage- the shampoo and conditioning balm. I buy the biggest bottles they make, though (33.8 fl oz). Otherwise I’m running out way too often. I also like hair masks. Right now what I’m using is Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture.


By the way, I used to love St. Ives Vanilla & Edelweiss shampoo and conditioner but it has become almost impossible to find, and basic hair care products is something that I need to be able to easily find.

After washing and conditioning my hair, I always use a leave-in conditioner. My current favorite (which is really the best one I’ve found) is also by TRESemme- their Anti-Frizz Secret. I buy every single tube my local Target brings in.

And for frizz emergency there’s always the legendary Biosilk Silk Therapy Treatment, though I try not to get too much of it on my scalp, because it makes it itch.

Just what the world needed

Another beauty blog. I don’t know about you, but I already read several. All are dedicated to the pursuit of creamy, shiny products, things that smell good, beautiful accessories (Dear Manolo, how I love thee) and the occasional comment about how crazy Tom Cruise has become.

The thing is, that as far as I can tell all the talented bloggers who write about cosmetics and makeup are blessed with peaches-and-cream complexion, Jennifer Aniston hair and a body chemistry that embraces Prada perfume. I’m none of the above.

I tan easily and nicely, my complexion is olivey enough that on a bad day I could audition for and get the lead in Wicked, because it’d save them money on green face paint. The plus side of this, is that I can actually sport a green eyeliner and look very nice in it. How many of you can say that?

On the other hand all the peachy, coraly and most pink stuff looks really bad on my face, and many other colors are not pigmented enough to make a difference on my face. I’m Caucasian, so I can only imagine how hard it is for women of different races to find colors that do what they’re supposed to.

As for things like hair care, I have a thick wavy hair down to my butt. Designer 8 oz shampoo and conditioner bottles make it laugh. But I need good products that can nourish and moisturize my locks. I’m always on a quest for the perfect leave-in conditioner. I don’t do much as far as styling it goes, you can’t really with this length. I wash it, cream it and let it be. It works very well.

This is what I look like, and this is where my documented journey begins.