Archive | April, 2012

The “Eyes” Have It!

19 Apr

Today, I got the glorious experience (said with sheer cynicism) to visit my eye doctor for my bi-yearly checkup. Because of meds I’m on and health conditions, it’s important for me to go every 6-9 months. I feel bad. You see, my eye doctor is my favorite doctor of them all (and I have quite a few). I’ve known him for over 23 years and he’s seen me through my marriages, babies, radio talk shows, sports, and now my blogging. He makes me smile, and I like to make him laugh. It’s good to have that kind of rapport with your doctor.

When he asked about my blogging today, I was excited to tell him I had my own domain name now. I’m my own “dot com” I boasted. Oh, he thought that was the cat’s meow. He wrote down the website to check it out and everything. I don’t what learning about Springtime accessorizing or the which all-day lip color would be best for him on rainy days, but I’m not one to turn away any of my fans. So, in honor of my favorite eye doctor, I will tell my Fashionistas fans the best way to wear your eye makeup when going to the eye doctor for a full appointment.

Most doctors will tell you not to wear any eye makeup at all, and in all honesty, they are right. But you see there are a few of us who can’t leave the house without our “face” on. So certain things you need to be aware of.


Let’s start with mascara. Waterproof, waterproof, waterproof. Don’t wear anything that is going to make your lashes too thick or will make it difficult to look comfortably in the little eye testie things. Plus after all the air poofing, dying your whites orange then jamming the blue rod into your eye, I guarantee you’ll be tearing. (Excited yet?) So you’ll want them to look great, natural and not smudge or run. Sassy’s Suggestion: Maybelline Volum’ Express One-By-One coats each lash without clumping, running or blotching. It keeps them looking nice and natural–for a long time!

Want some line to define? This is actually the product that can cause the most damage to your look–it gets wet, smudged and runny. Find a good eyeliner that claims to either be 24 hour or waterproof. My recommendation? I would use a liner that you sharpen yourself. There tends to be a bit more wax in them, keeping them on longer, and more resistant to water, drops or tears. Try avoiding lining the waterlines on your eyes too. It won’t last while everyone is poking around there. Make a nice crisp line along your bottom and top lashes, feathering the liner in between the lashes for a slightly bolder color. Sassy’s Suggestion: NYC New York Color Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil. It’s soft enough to go on without tugging the delicate area, but stays put while giving you that deep smooth color you want to outline your eyes!

Now, how about just a LITTLE color? Your eye doctor really doesn’t want to see your eye makeup looking like you want to leave his office and tear up the dance floor at Studio 54. Since everyone will have their hands on and in your eyes, you want to put on ONE neutral color so it won’t look a paint swatch mess when they are done, with maybe just a thin line of a darker color in the same family across the top lid and along the bottom lashes. Don’t use any eye shadow primer… the fewer the chemicals near your eyes, the better. And leave the glitter and sparkle for the after 5pm dinners. Plus you don’t want your eye techie digging out flecks the whole time. Sassy’s Suggestion: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion in Caffeine. A nice neutral shade that will still give your eyes a bit of “wow”.

So there you have it…. 20/20 vision with no problems (except your pupils will be the size of dinner plates for a while) and eye makeup that stood up through it all. It will probably be the hardest makeup to keep on under the most extreme conditions so if you can still leave the office looking fabulous, you, my Fashionista friend, have done YOUR job and done it well. Congrats!

Advertisement

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sassy’s Quick Beauty Tip Of The Day….

13 Apr

Right now, my lips are a chapped mess. I think part of it has to do with it being so dry around here where I live (we haven’t seen a good soaking rain in over a month!) and allergy season is already going into full swing. Any balms or oils get absorbed in seconds, and lipstick looks blotchy and flaky seconds after I put it on. So, rather than covering the problem, or attempting to pick it off, I had to conquer it. How do we do that? EXFOLIATE! Believe it or not, fashionistas, the cure is as easy as 1-2-3 !!

 

  1. In a small dish, mix 1/4 tsp. brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. honey and 1/4 tsp. of olive oil. Combine into a gritty paste. (The mixture fits perfect in a 5 gram makeup jar.)
  2. Using your finger tips, gently rub the mixture into your lips. Do this for about one minute.
  3. Using a soft towel or tissue, lightly wipe off any sugar that didn’t fall off or dissolve. Rub lips together to make sure all the grit is gone and the oil is getting absorbed.)

 
Once you’ve exfoliated all the dead skin cells off your lips, put on a rich balm to keep them soft. My favorites?


 
eos Lip Balm with SPF 15 in Lemon Drop
 
 

 
 
Maybelline Baby Lips in Peppermint
 
 
 
 
 

 
Korres Lip Butter in Guava
 
 

The gritties will remove the dead flaky skin from your lips, the honey will naturally remove the dead layers underneath that don’t flake off, and the olive oil will moisturize your lips while infusing antioxidants to keep them soft and safe from the elements. If you do this quick, easy exfoliating every night for one week, you’ll notice your lips will be looking and feeling better in no time. Then, once they are feeling back to normal, you only have to do this little exfoliating trick 1-2x a week.

Don’t spend a ton to look like million bucks! Just a few simple things around the house can keep you looking sexy chic without breaking the bank!!

(HINTS: Don’t have brown sugar?…White table sugar will work fine. Don’t have honey?…. Molasses or corn syrup will do the job. Don’t have any olive oil? Sweet almond oil, organic coconut oil or grapeseed oil are perfect alternatives too!!!)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes Nails DO Need A Break….

11 Apr

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been going really bright with my nails. I wanted a little oomph to my manicure and I thought some out-there colors and eye-catching hues would not just look good on my hands but also boost my mood during the “blah” weather trend we are having. It was a nice change to see my nails all decked out in flamboyant shades such as “Red Red” by Wet n Wild, “Go With The Flow-er” by OPI, and “Bling-tastic” Gem Crush Nail Color by Sally Hansen. Although the color makes my hands look fantastic, the minute I’d get a chip, the niceness all goes away. And once the chipping starts, it’s all over. There’s no saving it.

Because I have had bright, dark colors on for awhile, I noticed when I took my polish off today that my nails were looking a little dry and stained. Yucky. They needed a little love and attention. And rest. So I grabbed myself a natural-colored polish but not before I got my nails in good shape by giving them a quick, mini-mani:

 

  1. Remove all polish with a non-acetone nail polish remover. (TRICK!: Use lotion-infused tissues to help keep your hands and nail from getting extra dry!)
  2. Rub a good oil into your hands playing special attention to your cuticles, ridges and sides of your nails. Sweet almond oil works the best, but if you don’t have that, coconut oil, grapeseed oil or even olive oil will work just as good.
  3. Take a Chorlox Bleach Stick and with the brush end, give your nails a quick going over, avoiding the skin as much as possible. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
  4. With a nail brush (or an old toothbrush), brush off all the bleach using a few drops of your favorite fragranced soap or bath gel. Scrub lightly, underneath the nails as well. Rinse.
  5. Add a nice rich hand cream to keep them soft and silky. (My favorite? Tree Hut Shea Body Butter! Rich, moisturizing and smells good!)
  6. Give your hands about 30 minutes to absorb the moisturizer, then wipe each nail off with a paper towel, so any remaining oils won’t interfere with the nail polish. Then give them a couple of coats of your favorite light, neutral polish to keep them strong, protected and looking classic-ly neat!

 

So what are my go-to favorite neutral shades?

 

 

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color in “Brilliant Blush”

 

 

 

MODE Nail Enamel in “Shade #118” (Sheer Mother of Pearl Pink) – I got this at my local grocery store on clearance for 75 cents!!

 

 


 

Revlon Nail Enamel in “Pure Pearl”

 

 

 

Plain nails don’t have to look boring. In fact they can look simply classy! Not only does it give you a simple, elegant look but it also gives your nails a rest from heavy dyes that can stain and dry out your nails. Not to mention, it won’t look like a puzzle missing a piece when the shade starts to chip. It will keep your nails on the down-low when only you know they aren’t completely up to par!

Okay, Fashionistas…. share on! What is YOUR favorite nail polish shade right now??

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Here Comes The Rain Again…

8 Apr

The weather forecast for the next several days is not good: rain, rain and more rain. The fact is, we need it! The ground is dry and the rivers are low, so a good soaking spring rain is exactly what Mother Nature ordered. It’s not, however, what anyone who is a fashion and makeup fanatic wants to hear. Rain can ruin a fashionista’s look in an instant. That is why you have to have the right things on hand for not just the bright, sunny days but the rainy, yucky ones too.

When I hear that rain is on the way, the first thing I think of is my makeup. Visions of 70’s soap opera stars crying with streams of black eyeliner running down their cheeks flies through my mind. Makeup has come far since then, but not all of it. One damp day can cause your eye glam to smudge and smear, can cause your foundation to blotch up bad, and can make your lips dry and chapped. I think it’s important to chose your makeup based not just on your preferences but also on your skin type, where you live, and what your day will consist of.

For example, with rain on the agenda the next few days, these are a few things that will be MUST WEARS when it comes to my makeup:

Covergirl Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara – Rain or cry, this mascara will stay put ALL DAY without any smudging or flaking.
L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Eye Shadow – A creamy eye shadow that glides on and STAYS on through anything and everything.
Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner – A bold, smooth line with a soft, oil-free formula that holds its own for hours and hours.
Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor – Long, fade-free colors that keeps lips soft and protected from all elements.

Also, we can’t forget the hair! Humidity and rain will weigh down any style that you could have put in minutes before. Even before you begin styling you will want to use some products to help hold the style, then top it off with a secure spray. When I hear the weather isn’t going to be favorable for man nor beast, I break out the heavy hitters:

Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Spray Gel (Strong) – Just a few spritzes of this while my hair is damp will hold my style all day!
Samy Fat Hair “0” Calories Amplifying Hair Spray – This hair spray holds better than 100 paperclips on two pieces of paper. STRONG is an understatement!

With my glamour selected, I’ll be ready to face the elements! OH WAIT!…. I can’t forget about fashion! Doesn’t matter, really. My family gave me my favorite rainy day fashion statement for my birthday last year, and I actually smile a bit when I hear that rain is coming. Why?…because I know I will be able to wear my uber-chic, fashion fab rainboots by Coach:


When you have a jazzy pair of rainboots like these, nothing can stop you. Not even the weather. Bring it on, Mother Nature… I’m confident that the beauty and fashion products I will be wearing will keep me look sharp and sassy all day long!!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Does 97% Off Work For You?

6 Apr

Yesterday while at the mall, I had to pop into Kmart to grab some Easter things. On my way in, a few sales clerks were putting out the last of the winter merchandise at its final markdown price. What was that final price? $1.99 Wow. The problem? There really wasn’t anything left. Unless you were a fan of red, blue and black tutlenecks and men’s flannel shirts, there wasn’t much style to be found. Or was there…..

I quickly browsed through the half rack of women’s clothing and saw nothing that immediately caught my eye. Then, stuck in between a Christmas Tree sweatshirt and eight red mock tutlenecks was this black and white tunic top. It was made by Kmart’s signature brand and designer, Jacklyn Smith. On the price tag, I was happy to see my size – small – and its original price: $24.99. But right below that, marked down for about the fifth time was a pretty little red sale sticker that said “1.99”. The more I looked at the top, the more I couldn’t figure out exactly what type of top it was. Was it a tunic? Was it a nightshirt? Was it a lounge gown? Beat the heck out of me! All I know was, in my head, I easily pictured it with a pair of leggings, knee-high boots, and a studded belt around the waist–hot things I already had in my wardrobe. I didn’t care what it was. At this point it could have been a Snuggie and I would have made it a fashion trend. It was $1.99!!!!!

So buy it I did. And jazzy I made it! I decided to wear it today since it looked so comfortable and I was running errands where I didn’t want to feel constrained. So I paired it with a pair of Bullhead black denim leggings (Peter Harris Clothes, $5.99), my uber-glitzy BCBGMAXAZIRA black gemstone flats (TJ Maxx, $9.99), a wide elastic studded belt around the middle of the top (thrift store, 50 cents!) and then topped it all off with a black bowed newsboy hat (Marshalls, $6.99). The look was SLAMMING! Not only was it fun, fresh and now, but it was oh so comfy! The most expensive thing I wore today? My perfume… J’adore by Dior (no comment)!

Don’t think when you hit the malls or local stores that just past-season, out-dated merchandise is on the clearance rack. It is always worth a look. Even if something is a little “yesterday”, you might be able to pair it up with something current that you already have, making a tres chic outfit! Just look at me… I might have found a $1.99 nightgown for all I know, but I turned that little beauty into a rocking piece for my Spring wardrobe!

So tell me, fashionistas….. what is YOUR greatest fashion find that you can remember? I guarantee you can think of at least one. (ALL fashionistas remember their greatest finds!!)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

“When In Doubt, Wear Red”

3 Apr

I get up with my daughter in the morning to make sure she gets off to school okay. While she’s in the bathroom straightening her hair, curling her lashes, or body spritzing from head to toe, I am in the living room checking all of my social networking sites for any news or updates that happened overnight. Today while checking Twitter, someone who I follow typed this simple statement: “Good morning everyone! Make it a great day by wearing red lipstick!” Seemed simple enough but it stuck with me. Especially since red isn’t one of the popular colors in my wardrobe and makeup ensemble. Love it on my nails, but for clothes and lips? I always question if it the best color for me.

But I wanted to make it a great day, so when I got up after dozing back up off for a few hours, I grabbed myself a pair of jazzy jeans, a lightweight red top and a pair of black flats. Now, I had the right colors with my clothes, the next was the makeup! When I usually wear red, its a very NEUTRAL red. Not a cool red with blue hues, not a warm red with yellow/orange/brown hues. Straight up neutral red. I tend to wear very neutral makeup. Fair ivory foundation, a neutral peachy-pink blush, and a light silver shadow on the eye with deep black liner and mascara. Oh, but how about those lips? What do I pick when I want a good, long lasting, not too bold red lip? Let’s see:

L’Oreal Infallible Plumping Lip Gloss in Plumped Red – I love L’Oreal’s Infallible lip glosses. They have a great applicator, the scent/taste is actually nice, and the color is long wearing… up to 6 hours! It’s almost more like a liquid lip color than a sticky gloss. The plumping part for me is just an extra since I have full, pouty lips to begin with. It was more the color I liked about this gloss than anything else. It’s a true, bright, red gloss that moisturizes while it colors. And it DOES color… hour after hour, keeping my lips soft, tasty, and sexy with this shiny shade. Taking a chance with a red lip color is a gutsy move… and this is the one that definitely works for me!

Avon Shine Attract Lipstick in Passionate Red – This is a new item to Avon’s makeup line, and I think they might have hit a home run with it. The concept is unique: take a great shade of lipstick and surround it in a clear, moisture-infused gloss for one great tube of color with ton of shine and conditioners. When I ordered this, I have NO IDEA what possessed me to order it in red. But now? I’m so glad I did. The shade is very neutral, and with the high shine, it keeps it looking more like a light lip tint than a heavy, thick lipstick. It is a great balance between hydrators, gloss and color. It is easy to put on, lasts a good amount of time, and keeps my lips feeling silky smooth. The color isn’t over powering, and the taste/scent is tolerable. If I wanted something light and silky for everyday wear? This is a great red lip color to turn to!

So today was red day for me. I’m glad I stuck to my Twitter’s suggestion and wore a color that lifted my spirits and made me step outside of my comfort zone. Red is definitely a color to reach for on days that you need a boost. I guess I should listen to the famous Bill Blass when it comes to days such as these:


“When in doubt, wear red.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,