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· Beauty Notes: In Her Bag
· Biotherm skincare, part 1
· Beauty Notes: Obsessions (5.23.06)
· The prodigal returns...
· An interesting skincare blog...
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· May 25, 2006 9:20 PM by
TheBeautyBrains
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The Lipstick Page Forums Beauty & Fashion Blog: May 2006
I'm off again...
Posted by Dain, Wednesday, May 31, 2006 11:11 AM (Eastern)
Soon. It turns out that this summer program that I thought I hadn't gotten into, I got into it after all. So I'll be a month in Hvar, Croatia. I'm leaving June 3, so in a very few days. This will make up for that time in sixth grade when I couldn't go on the Maine school trip because I got chicken pox. In any case, I'll have internet access, but I'm not sure I'll be able to blog (we'll see).
I'll have to figure what to buy and pack! That'll be a post unto itself.
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Beauty Notes: "The most beautiful makeup for a woman is passion" is the famous quotation of the designer Yves Saint Laurent...
Posted by Dain, Sunday, May 28, 2006 12:46 PM (Eastern)
..."But cosmetics are easier to buy." An interesting article I found while surfing online, from The New York Times, "Sans Makeup, S'il Vous Plaît". It's about the French conception of beauty, and its relationship with makeup (which seems ironic, to me, considering how many beauty products France is responsible for).
Labels: beauty notes, culture notes, ysl
Culture Notes: You find the queerest things on the internet...
Posted by Dain, 12:30 PM (Eastern)
Particularly in the world of blogs. This has nothing to do with beauty, but... Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog!. It's written in Middle English, which isn't too difficult to understand once you get used to how strange it looks and sounds (there's a guide to the language available).
Oh, I don't know. It just cracks me up:
- V. An appeale to the lustes of the bodi!
TO: GEOFFREY CHAUCER (daliaunce@hotmail.com)
FROM: BROKERES OF GRETE PORNE (spintrian1949@grapelane.co.uk)
RE: HOTTE HOTTE ACCIOUN
WITNESSE THE HOTTESTE ACCIOUN AVAILABLE ONLYNE!
ONLIE 1s./daye
LADYES OF SPAYNE AND ITALYE, MADEMOYSELLES OF FRAUNCE, GIRLES OF WESTWALE AND ALEMAINE, DAMES OF ENGELOND
– ALLE WYTH FAYRE FOREHEEDS AND WELL-YWIMPLED! HOTTE COURTLIE ACCIOUN! GENTIL TALKE OF HAWKYNGE AND THE LORE OF CUPIDE, THE DOUN-FALLE OF THEBES AND OTHIR MATIRS OF WISDAM! SOFTE AND CHASTE BUSSYNGE ON THE MOUTHE AFTIR LONGE TOURNEYS!
AND FOR BASER AND CHURLISHE FOLKE, LYVE WEBCAMES OF INNES OF THE STEWES, IN WHICH THE ACTE OF VENUS YS DOON YN APERT FOR THYNE EYEN ONLIE. ALLE THE FRESHESTE STARRES, INCLUDYNGE ELEANOR RYKENER. TALES OF NERO AND CALIGULE AND OF THE MI NIGHTES OF ARABYE, AS WEL AS EXTRA-RANDYE FABLIAUX FROM FRAUNCE NEW IMPORTEDE.
Labels: culture notes, internet
Beauty Notes: In Her Bag
Posted by Dain, Friday, May 26, 2006 2:24 PM (Eastern)
I do a lot of reading, by nature and by profession (I wonder if being a student is considered a profession? I guess, technically, not.). My reading seems to fall into three categories: the obscure intellectual academic stuff I do for classes, fluffy escapist fantasy novels, and finally, fashion magazines. I particularly like Vogue and Lucky, but will probably add W to my subscriptions next year, if only for the photography alone.
I keep a portfolio full of articles that have interested me over the years. I just came across one of them, a single page titled, "in her bag", from a Seventeen magazine from long ago (August 1999). It features Katie Holmes, from her Dawson's Creek era, rather than the Tom-Cruise's-pet-girlfriend stage, and her favorite products, stuffed into a clear plastic mini backpack (very stylish). Her taste in cosmetics isn't very remarkable, mostly recommendations from makeup artists, but the sheer spartan minimalism of it! And without any fuss! Makes me wish I were as unthinking about cosmetics as she. As it is, I think way too much about makeup. ; )
So. Sometimes as an exercise, I try to do the same. Reduce it to a handful of essentials, nothing pretentious—sorta the exact opposite of what I normally do. It is a good idea, though, and in subsequent issues they had celebrity editors choosing their essential products too. Ms. Holmes' selections are eerily like my own in some ways. Ah, well, you know. The business does have its favored products (Dr. Hauschka, Bumble & Bumble, Kiehls). I've modeled mine on hers, just for whimsy's sake.
1, 2, & 3 Keep it simple, is my adage when it comes to skincare. Simple is best, particularly if you have sensitive skin like mine that doesn't handle chemicals well. I use a simple cleanser/toner/moisturizer routine, specifically Dr. Hauschka's Cleansing Milk, Facial Toner, and Moisturizing Day Cream—just the basics. 4 I couldn't live without mascara, and L'Oreal Voluminous, bar none, is just the best. 5 Phytologie Phyto 7 is a miracle product. It's not a styling product, but more like a moisturizing cream for hair. It's very light in texture, and somehow turns my thick, dry, long hair into silk. 6 Wet 'n' Wild #666 Lipliner is an industrial staple, and for good reason, it's perfect. On everyone. With everything. And it lasts. 7 Asking me to choose a single perfume is like... asking me to choose between limbs. So I'm just gonna take a leaf out of Ms. Holmes' book and choose something light and pretty: L'Occitane Eau de Miel, the scent of nectar and meadow flowers and pure sunshine. 8 & 9 I need a gentle shampoo and rich conditioner, ones that smell nice. Lo and behold, Bumble & Bumble has... Gentle Shampoo and Super Rich Conditioner. And they smell like creamed honey, delicious! 10 I am really quite pale, and can sometimes look sallow. Blush comes to my rescue. I favor bright pinks, like Becca Creme Blush in Wild Orchid. You need only a dab, but it lasts all day. 11, 12 & 13 It's impossible for me to choose a single eyeshadow, as I layer. My favorite eyeshadow is currently a lilac shimmer from my Clé de Peau palette, which brightens my eyes, banishes exhaustion, but has enough grey to make it neutral enough for everyday. Even more important, however, is eyeliner. I smudge MAC Teddy Eye Kohl, a rich russet shimmer. And the final touch, used sparingly, is the intense black and white shimmer of NARS Pandora duo. 14 YSL Touche Eclat is the best thing ever invented, hang the expense. 15 There are many body lotions out there, but I've never tried anything better than Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion. Nothing makes my skin so silky soft. Who knew?
That was really, really tough. In my mind, I think, I could never live like that! And yet, throw in a couple more lipsticks, a handful of perfumes, and I do honestly live like that. I think most of us are the same: we use the same products over and over again. I read a Seventeen again recently, at the dentist's office (root canal=fun). It was crap. I don't think it was that bad when I was 14. I wonder if the magazine's gone downhill?
Labels: beauty notes, minimalism
Biotherm skincare, part 1
Posted by Dain, Thursday, May 25, 2006 12:13 PM (Eastern)
<<<Biosource Softening Cleansing Milk for Dry Skin $16: This is your basic milky cleanser, with a soft light floral scent. There is nothing about this product that isn't typical—not worth the $16, in my opinion. It doesn't cleanse thoroughly, or rinse off very well, leaving a film on the skin. One must use a toner afterwards, but who needs the additional aggravation?
>>>Biosource Softening Cleansing Foam for Dry Skin $16: This is a luxurious foaming cleanser, with a rich emollient base to make it suitable for dry skin. It's very creamy, the creamiest foaming cleanser I've tried (creamier still than Clé de Peau Gentle Cleansing Foam), to the point that it is too rich for me (and in any case, I prefer non-foaming cleansers myself). It is, however, quite nice if you have dry skin and like foaming cleansers, but find them too harsh to use. A little goes a long way. It does leave a little bit of a film on the skin, but it's not noticeable once your skin is dry.
<<<Biosource Clarifying Cleansing Gel for Normal/Combination Skin $16: This is probably Biotherm's best cleanser, and for good reason. It's a light, cooling gel that foams. It cleanses without stripping (even my sensitive, winter-dry skin, though it took a few uses before my skin got used to it), and you rinse away all the nasty dirt and oil that has accumulated over the day. For pretty much but the driest, this is an excellent cleanser. It has a nice, light fresh scent. It's minimal care—all you need is moisturizer afterwards—and minimal care (as opposed to loading your skin with tons of junky miracle products) is the best for most skins.
>>>Biosource
<<<Biopur Purifying Pore Refining Crystal Gel for Combination/Oily Skin $16: I have actually not tried this, as my skin type veers in the opposite direction... dry, that is. I fear most oily-skin products. Unless, however, it is some miracle that banishes oilies, I see no reason for this product, as the Biosource Clarifying Cleansing Gel will do.
>>>Biovitamin Gentle Purifying Cleansing Gel for Young, Normal/Combination Skin $13.50: This is an interesting product. It is a foaming cleanser with powdery granules for exfoliation. It's a nice enough cleanser, the cleanser is stronger than the Biosource Clarifying Cleansing Gel, but the exfoliation is very gentle. The scent is fruity. I've always had reservations about cleansers with granules in it; you can't use it near your eyes. The idea, here, is to minimalize the number of products that a prepubescent girl might have to tackle (and, I suppose, she may not wear heavy eye makeup in the first place), but if you wear eye makeup, you'd need a separate eye makeup remover anyway...
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May 25, 2006 9:20 PM, TheBeautyBrains said...
Hey, nice blog you've got here! We'd like to use your site as resources for our blog - The Beauty Brains that deals with the science of cosmetic products. |
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Beauty Notes: Obsessions (5.23.06)
Posted by Dain, Wednesday, May 24, 2006 5:00 PM (Eastern)
Clé de Peau Eye Contour Essence $110
It's never too early to start using an eye cream. Actually, I've never really held much stock with eye creams. Yes, the skin under eyes is delicate and dry and prone to wrinkles, but one doesn't need a special product unless undereye circles and puffiness are major concerns. Nevertheless, I love the idea of a truly fabulous eye cream—there's something so feminine but over-the-top about splurging on eye cream—the skincare equivalent of red lipstick. I probably won't buy it, simply because I really don't have any use for it, but it's nice to dream in color, on occasion.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP $110 for 3.4 oz
It's a "city perfume", I read once. And that, to me, smells right. It's the scent of a fabulous twenty-something, thirty-something (as opposed to the classic elegance of No. 5 or the youthful exuberance of Chance), very chic in well-cut black. It's businesslike, without sacrificing feminity—the smell of cocktails and Virginia Slims. It's an aldehydic floriental, which is an easy way of saying that it goes back and forth from the crystal clear (aldehydes) to the powdery mysterious (oriental) along the feminine (floral). And for some reason, I crave the smell of it, which is all the recommendation it needs. Try ebay for a bargain price, why pay more?
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Sweet Illusion $49.50
Who doesn't look good in purple? I lusted after this the moment I saw it, and with good reason, it's a dynamite quint on anyone. The combination of dark sultry violet, sweet lilac, pale cool pink shimmer, pink champagne, and ivory shimmer is gorgeous-on-everyone fantastic. Throw in a smooth bronze (NARS Key Largo) to add warmth, or add a counterpoint with greens, or smoke it up with a pewter (Stila Diamond Lil)... the possibilities are endless.
Phytologie Phytonectar Shampoo $21
I can no longer imagine life without Phyto 7. I've always been rather blasé about hair, but it. is. actually. a. miracle. product. Turns hair into healthy, shiny, silk. So my interest is piqued: what are the shampoos like? My hair is very dry, and it's long, so I'm considering this one, the Phytonectar, which is reputed to smell like orange blossoms. I've got my eye on Bumble & Bumble, too, more specifically the Gentle Shampoo and Super Rich Conditioner, but ultimately I don't know if I need to stray from my John Frieda Brilliant Brunette duo—they work amazingly too, and the smell of coconut is fantastic: rich, not saccharine.
Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub ~$5
Their products are generally far too rough for my sensitive skin, but I tried this at a friend's house and... it's surprisingly effective and gentle at once. I don't really like the scent of cucumber, but it's fairly innocuous here. The small beads in a creamy base are perfect for daily grime-stomping and flake-smoothing in the shower.
red lipstick
It's search and destroy, seeking the perfect one. I may chronicle my exploits, so stay tuned. Red lipstick, it is coming back, after what seems like ages and ages of sheer sparkly glosses. I've got a new trio, the Pat McGrath designed Max Factor Maxeye Shadow in Precious Metals (which is a sparkly sheer white, a matte black, and a soft silver) in hand, to complement the red. I'll wear it with shimmery brown liner (MAC Teddy) and soft lilac (Clé de Peau), to keep it soft and modern. And where will this red lipstick be? Chanel, MAC, Hermès, NARS, YSL?
Labels: beauty notes, chanel, cle de peau, clean and clear, dior, obsessions
The prodigal returns...
Posted by Dain, 3:21 PM (Eastern)
Well, no, it's not that dramatic. I've just been busy with school. But vacation is here, at last, so I have plenty of time to spare.
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An interesting skincare blog...
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Sunday, May 14, 2006 2:36 AM (Eastern)
Solarkat's Eco blog
What makes it interesting: it's all about natural skincare. It's studious. It's detailed. If you're looking for information on this topic, by all means check this out.
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