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· Color Me In: Cat
· Lookbook: Bronzed
· Lookbook: Au Naturel
· Beauty Notes: When You Are Young...
· Beauty Notes: The Minimalist Face
· The Perfect Stash: Part 2 (face)
· Beauty Notes: Becca Wild Orchid Creme Blush
· Beauty Notes: Hauling (11.27.05)
· Beauty Notes: Wishlist! (10.14.05)
Comments
· September 18, 2007 4:42 PM by
Audrey_H
· August 3, 2007 10:29 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
· August 3, 2007 10:45 PM by
Dain
· August 3, 2007 11:49 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
· August 4, 2007 12:20 AM by
Dain
· August 4, 2007 12:39 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
· March 31, 2007 12:56 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
· October 19, 2005 11:05 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
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Color Me In: Cat
Posted by Dain, Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:21 AM (Eastern)
FIRST NAME Cathy
HAIR COLOR black
SKIN TYPE very sensitive. mild eczema.
SKIN TONE yellow (??) editor's note: golden, to be exact, but yellow works
EYE COLOR brown
MAKEUP STYLE minimal. classic. natural. but with color. like purple liner, not black, etc. but subtle.
SPECIFIC CONCERNS play up eyes and eyebrows. BLACKHEADS!!! pores. DARK CIRCLES AND EYE BAGS. time is a major concern. beyond frantic.
TOP THREE FAVORITE PRODUCTS burts bees apricot something face scrub. olay quench for summer. eucerin original moisturizing creme for winter. NARS for color.
As ever, we will begin with the skin. As I always stress, nothing is more important: if we do not take care of our skin, everything else is, quite literally, cosmetic. Since Cathy is very pressed for time and wishes to minimalize, I would recommend Jurlique for her dry, sensitive skin, which is Australia's answer to the all-natural, organically sourced Dr. Hauschka without the pore-clogging peanut oil.
For your more specific concerns, I will honestly tell you, blackheads are really, really, really tough to get rid of. If, after a month of use, the Jurlique cleanser has not worked on your blackheads, then you may wish to consider Biologique Recherche Lotion P50W, but I suggest seeing if a good, basic routine does not manage them first. As for puffy eyes, I'll admit to a lack of expertise in this respect, so I will defer to Kevyn Aucoin, who liked Origins Puffery ($20), chilled in the refrigerator for extra impact, "for when you've crying over a fight with your boyfriend". Drink more water, and apply this at bedtime as we all retain more water as we sleep.
I always believe in simple regimens with pure products, when it comes to skincare. Skin is such an organic thing, and you can't really abuse it or try to control, or it will rebel, like a wayward teenager.
When it comes to fast-and-easy makeup, the best way to streamline is to target that which needs targeting: the darkness under the eyes, an overall lack of glow and health, groomed brows, definition at the lashline, and lipcolor for balance. Products so basic they're boring, but I have made some attempt to choose products that are very quick and easy to use even when frazzled and exhausted—creams instead of powders, friendly and flattering shades.
That'll work as an everyday face, with two lipcolors to switch around in intensity, but if you feel like playing around with color, may I indulge your NARS addiction and taste for subversive but refined eyeliner with Belly Dance?
Labels: becca, bioderma, cle de peau, color me in, jurlique, kevyn aucoin, l'oreal, nars, origins, shiseido
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Lookbook: Bronzed
Posted by Dain, Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:53 AM (Eastern)
One of the reasons why I can rationalize my lack of sunscreen usage is because I see so little sun. Bronze is not one of the looks I favor, but it has been very popular of late, approximately parallel to the rise of Gisele Bündchen who perhaps best epitomizes the modern bronzed beauty: beachy glamourous, wind tossed hair, toasty, dewy skin. I have chosen this next because it is somewhat of a variation on au naturel, albeit seasonal. Undereye concealer and defined brows, as ever, are a prerequisite.
THE BASICS
- the tan: A natural tan is by far the best, imparting a glow to the skin that cannot be mimicked by tanning salons and the million variants on fake bakes that flood the market. I speak only of optimum aesthetics, without concerns for health hazards, which everyone has heard already. Too dark a tan is an obscenity, you should look healthily sunkissed, no more. Recommended products: I have minimal experience with self-tanners, so I can only point to the industry classics by Clarins or Jergen's.
- mascara: Because a tan adds color to the face, the bronzed look requires less makeup overall. Just a touch of mascara will do, one that won't smear or budge in the humidity. Recommended product: Kiss Me Mascara.
If your tan is perfect and requires no enhancement, the most longlasting, fuss-free option is a multipurpose stain like Becca Beach Tint or Stila Rose Convertible Color.
OPTION 2
For an extra touch of sun, a good bronzer like Guerlain Terracotta, no shimmer, no orange, should be applied with a big, dense, flat-top brush to the parts of the face that sunlight will hit: the forehead, the tip of the nose, the chin, and the cheeks. For lips, a natural tawny is a subtle complement, but why not take the opportunity to wear bright, juicy lipgloss, such as coral or watermelon, so fresh in summertime? Recommended products: Revlon Raisin Glaze SuperLustrous Lipgloss (a sheer rose-tawny), Fresh Desire Gloss Absolute (cherry popsicle).
ADDITIONS
A bit of gold highlight can look absolutely delicious on bronzed skin, especially on the eyes. Summer is not kind to makeup, so less is better and less is required, but if you cannot bear such nakedness before the world, a slick of black liner is a simple but flattering touch. Tans will let you get away with brighter colors, so this is one of the few times that blue or mint eyeshadow or any chalky pastel will look more appropriate than bold.
Images courtesy barbaralaurie.com, photo by Ken Browar (top) and jedroot.com, makeup by Pacos Blancas for Neiman Marcus and Nina Havercamp for French Elle (bottom).
Labels: becca, clarins, fresh, guerlain, kiss me, lookbook, revlon, stila
Lookbook: Au Naturel
Posted by Dain, Tuesday, September 18, 2007 1:19 PM (Eastern)
The first color story barely is one at all. It is a look often seen, because models are plenty beautiful (it being the job description) and require little accentuation, and mere mortals are lazy. Natural makeup is a look that should belong to every woman's arsenal, it is a philosophy that hews to making women look better than they do without makeup without giving the impression that they're wearing makeup.
What the look actually translates into is precise, targeted makeup that zones in on problem areas but refrains from too much coloration.
THE BASICS
- undereye concealer: Everyone is naturally darker here, which is why concealer is of universal benefit even for the perfect of skin. Apply a shade slightly lighter than skin tone to inner corner of eye, with finger of least pressure (ring), that's all. Recommended: Clé de Peau, the best without question.
- groomed brows: There is never a moment when perfect brows are not appropriate. They lift the face, open up the eyes, and add balance to asymmetries. Recommended: Tweezerman Slant and Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow, practically goofproof.
- perfect blush: I strongly feel that blush is the most important color cosmetic. Its particular flattery (when chosen rightly) affects the entire face, and serves as the linchpin for the lipcolors and even eyecolors you choose. The right blush will make you look healthy, and to a small degree, will even out the skin. Recommended products: NARS Malibu Multiple and Becca Amaryllis are easy universals for those who have difficulty choosing (Malibu is subdued, Amaryllis is flushed), NARS Sin (for girls who look best in cool colors), Bobbi Brown Coral (LE, so if you're warm-toned, buy it fast!). La Femme is also worth a look, Nectar Peach and Golden Amber Dew in particular.
- the lashline: A thin smudge of eyeliner, preferably in brown, charcoal, or black, will make you look like you have lusher lashes but doesn't scream "MAKEUP!". Tightlining (creamy pigment smudged between lashes just above the inner rim) is perfectly suited for your purpose, though a pencil is faster. Add light mascara to intensify effect. Recommended products: L'Oréal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Laura Mercier Flat Eyelining Brush, Shu Uemura Basic Mascara (superlatively natural look).
- YLBB, of course: A shade deeper and richer than your natural liptone is called for here. The easy choice here is sheer lipstick, but lipliner+lip balm, tinted lip balm, or just a dab of creamy lipstick will all work. Recommended products, industry faves: MAC Viva Glam V, Cover Girl Blushberry TruShine, Wet 'n' Wild #666, and Clinique Black Honey, are neutrals of increasing depth that will suit most skintones. It is different and not necessarily intuitive for everyone, though. The easiest thing of all? Plain lip balm.
While foundation is not recommended for the au naturel look, tinted moisturizer may suit you if unevenness is a concern. If you are prone to shine, powder may also be necessary. A bit of fleshy shimmer (ivory on the pale, champagne on the light, fawn on the medium, bronze on the dark) on the lid is a subtle effect that opens up the eyes.
TIME LIMIT
Three minutes, four with tightlining.
Labels: becca, bobbi brown, cle de peau, clinique, cover girl, kevyn aucoin, l'oreal, la femme, laura mercier, lookbook, mac cosmetics, nars, shu uemura, wet n wild
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September 18, 2007 4:42 PM, Audrey_H said...
Beautiful. I love that a natural look means lips with color. I *loathe* beige lips and I can't for the love of god understand why it's so popular. YLBB is SO much prettier! |
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Beauty Notes: When You Are Young...
Posted by Dain, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 3:12 AM (Eastern)
Everyone has an opinion on how to spend the golden coin of youth, the most liquid of all assets. Everyone, that is, except the young themselves. It's all very confusing and infinitely self-absorbed, but I suppose when you are trying to find yourself you've gotta be that way, though it doesn't always show people at their best. Teen angst in a nutshell. Is this why we desire youth so much? That feeling of urgency that comes from hinging your existence on concerns so immediate and unmeasured? What is it that Stephen Dedalus' mother tells him to find when he offs to Paris at the end of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man? Here, I found it: "She prays now, she says, that I may learn in my own life and away from home and friends what the heart is and what it feels. Amen. So be it. Welcome, O life, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race." Yes, that is the secret desire of adolescence, Joyce said it best. And once you fail to find it? The return home*. Where the heart is.
I think BVLGARI makes excellently understated perfumes. They're not the "same ole thing" that everyone else is wearing, but easy to appreciate (without mustiness or overwhelming complexity that's lost on untrained noses). Blv Notte (a crystalline musk brought about to rich perfection through ginger, iris, and bitter chocolate) is one my favorites, Bvlgari Black (soft spices and black tea), Eau Parfumée Thé Vert (crisp green tea with substance), and Pour Femme (soft sweet white florals).
*Ulysses. What a clever man he is. I hate him!
Cosmetics images courtesy (at least, the cosmetics) from instyle.com.
Labels: almay, APC, beauty notes, becca, bobbi brown, bvlgari, cetaphil, clarins, clean and clear, film, kiehl's, lucky brand, max factor, maybelline, miu miu, olay, repetto
Beauty Notes: The Minimalist Face
Posted by Dain, Friday, August 03, 2007 12:09 AM (Eastern)
I feel rather repetitive in writing about skincare, but it must be done as prefatory material. A good skincare regime will inspire the confidence to "go naked", or close to it as possible. The better your skin, the less cover you need, and as nothing completely mimics the appearance of real skin, a more intelligent strategy would be to focus on skincare, while concentrating your face products to a few strategic points. Practically everyone needs a good undereye concealer, and all but the most ruddy will look instantly better with the perfect blush, as these two products pinpoint two major areas of the face that benefit most from improvement.
An undereye concealer should have a cream, blendable texture, slightly lighter than your overall skintone, but not too light, or you'll have the reverse raccoon effect. I also find a slight peach tone cancels out discoloration under eyes. Application is easy: prep the skin with moisturizer beforehand (I have never found this personally necessary, but others may require something to provide a bit more slip so that the concealer glides on evenly), concentrate the concealer on the inner corner of the eye, and blend with your ring finger (it has the least amount of pressure. If necessary, you can dust on some powder to make sure it lasts and prevent any eyeshadow fallout. You could use a concealer brush instead of your finger, but I think it's a waste of effort, not to mention that a brush harbors germs. A good concealer should erase all signs of fatigue but look completely natural. If you're willing to make the investment, Clé de Peau Concealer is the absolute best—no other even compares—and I've also found the price is misleading, one stick lasts (my Stephane Marais double is at year three and still going strong). Though you've only targeted a small spot on your face, the difference is really enormous, because practically everyone looks like crap there. : )
I've always maintained that according to necessity, only one shade of blush is required, provided that it is perfectly suited. It is an old-fashioned notion to treat blush as a color cosmetic, one to match a "look", like peach blush with green eyeshadow or plum with violet eyes. Rather, the blush ought to match you—give your face a healthy, balanced, and fresh appearance. Like brows, I don't consider blush to be, strictly speaking, a color cosmetic: it is essential to a well put together face, in fact I would say eyeshadow is far less important than either blush or brows, but when done right, shouldn't match your makeup but rather your face. I've written a guide to choosing the perfect shade of blush, which is rather technical, but accurate. A few outstanding shades, in decreasing universality: Becca Amaryllis Creme Blush (probably the most universal shade I've seen, as it mimics the rush of blood to the skin, but tempered somewhat and far easier to blend than Benetint), NARS Desire (a somewhat less universal shade, as it's better suited to high contrast coloring, i.e. those with dark hair), La Femme Golden Dew Amber (on the same level as NARS Desire, but better for those with low-contrast coloring with light hair), MAC Fleur Power (great on olive-undertoned Mediterranean complexions, darker Asians, basically anyone with deeper skin tones), NARS Sin (the cool alternative to Fleur Power). The ultimate test is a practical one: when applied, the perfect shade of blush instantly brings your face to life. Application rather depends on formula, but for most people, application should concentrate on the apple of the cheek (the fleshy part of your cheeks when you smile), swept out to your cheekbones, with a little on the temples and the chin (a Kevyn Aucoin trick, and an effective one, as these are parts of your face that naturally flush and the overall look is more balanced). Since I have a round face, I tend to angle my blush upwards to elongate the face, while a nearly horizontal angle is useful for those with long faces.
I think the combination of undereye concealer and blush is enough for those who have good skin. Blush disguises minor flaws, making foundation unnecessary, and adds to the natural glow of naked skin rather than hiding it. But not everyone is born with perfect skin, and require more help, for which there are a few different strategies. Overall, I think foundation is to be avoided. I prefer a cream foundation like Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer applied selectively to problem areas, or, for all over unevenness, a light liquid with a skin-like finish, or tinted moisturizer, like MAC Face & Body (a staple among makeup artists). Yet another option is a face powder with coverage, like Caron Poudre Peau Fine, which additionally cancels shine without feeling occlusive.
As for blush, it is still halfway a color cosmetic. Your perfect shade of blush should be your guide to choosing lipcolors. Chances are, if you look best in pink blushes, your favored lipcolors should have some pink to them. But it's not the blush that matches the lipcolor, but the other way around. In addition, there are any number of special effects possible with blush. For a sunkissed look, a bronzer (or likeminded blush, like NARS Malibu or Lovejoy) can function as an alternative to your everyday blush. A bronzer also looks good with peaches, golds, coppers, and greens, so if you gravitate towards these shades, it should be a sign that you might look better in bronzer than blush. For a subtler look than blush, a highlighter or supersheer shimmery blush may be used instead; this is particularly useful in photography (it gives skin a beautiful finish), but also when your look requires a muted blush so that it does not overwhelm strong eyes or lips. And finally, an in-from-the-cold flush, perhaps not appropriate for everyday, requires a stronger color than your quotidian perfect blush; the aforementioned MAC Fleur Power and NARS Sin will do that splendidly.
PRODUCT COUNT: Two, undereye concealer and the perfect blush will cover your needs. Back it up with foundation if necessary, but the less you can get away with, the better.
Labels: beauty notes, becca, caron, cle de peau, kevyn aucoin, la femme, mac cosmetics, minimalism, nars
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August 3, 2007 10:29 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
I agree with much of this... I've been getting away with not using concealer for quite some time. To this day I don't use it. I probably should though, soon. Eh. I've been getting good results from my eye cream (I use a men's eye cream, which imo is better, perhaps on the assumption that men aren't going to use concealer). August 3, 2007 10:45 PM, Dain said...
I think this is true of most of the stuff I've blogged about so far as things that ought to belong in anyone's stash. Once you find the right one, you can't live without it. Err... not that that is supposed to be a bad thing. August 3, 2007 11:49 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
The One True Blush. :D August 4, 2007 12:20 AM, Dain said...
Neutrogena has come out with a 3-in-1 concealer for eyes (called, of all things, 3-in-1 concealer for eyes), intended to be concealer, eye cream, and spf 20 all at once (nothing really that inventive). It looks interesting, though, Neutrogena has good shades. I wonder if it's any good. August 4, 2007 12:39 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Hmmm...you know it occurred to me last night, I wish they made cosmetics for men. I don't mean "pretty" cosmetics necessarily, but something like concealer. |
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The Perfect Stash: Part 2 (face)
Posted by Dain, Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:59 PM (Eastern)
This part is easy. I don't wear much. Concealer under the eyes, rosy blush, and sometimes a dusting of powder to even things out a little.
CONCEALER
requirements: undetectable (nothing cakey), brightens tired eyes, travels
well, preferably cost effective
candidates: Stephane Marais Perfect Concealer, Clé de Peau Concealer,
YSL Touche Eclat, Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer. There are
pros and cons to each of these. The Stephane Marais is wonderful; I've had
this tube for three years and have probably 1/3 left, which is cost effective
for $39. It's also very easy to use. But, it has been discontinued (except on
ebay). The Clé de Peau is the same wonderful product, but it's horrendous
at $65. Still, I may bite the bullet and get myself some anyway, because I
find this is the easiest and best concealer to use. The YSL would be the
ideal product for me, except that it goes bad very quickly, and there's only a
tiny amount of product for a great expense. The Kevyn Aucoin is great,
but difficult to get the hang of, but the tiny pot ought to last me forever, and
it has the added bonus of being versatile. Other options: YSL Anti-Cernes
Multi-Action Concealer, Shu Uemura Pro Concealer.
POWDER COMPACT
requirements: finely milled, tightly pressed, smells nice, light-diffusing
effect that evens out (just a little) and brightens skin, banishes shine
without drying out my skin, chic compact with mirror (so I can touch up my
lips)
candidates: Caron Poudre Peau Fine no. 5—this little beauty has it all, I
think it's destined to be a holy grail.
ROSY BLUSH
requirements: a bright candy pink is my go-to blush, it's perfect with my
light, golden skin and dark eyes and hair (very Snow White)
candidates: Becca Wild Orchid Creme Blush, NARS Desire Blush, Kevyn
Aucoin Pravella The Creamy Moist Glow. NARS Desire was how I
discovered the versatility of this shade, and perhaps it is the best choice as
one compact will last you ages. But I think the shade of Becca Wild Orchid
is superior, plus it's easier to use (look ma, no brush!), blends more readily
into the skin, and lasts longer. It is extremely expensive for only a little, $27;
one pot lasts me about a year. The Kevyn Aucoin, I have yet to try, but I
know it's a quality product (I've used Liquifuschia, which is too bright for
me), better even than the Becca, but I don't know if the color is as nice.
PLUM BLUSH
requirements: an in-from-the-cold snow-bunny flush, rosy plum, just a
little stronger than my everyday blush
candidates: NARS Sin Blush. I admit, I haven't done much research yet. I
tried Sin recently, and was amazed how flattering something that looked so
dark and dusty could be (it transforms on your skin).
Final face stash?
Clé de Peau Concealer
Caron Poudre Peau Fine Compacte
Becca Wild Orchid Creme Blush
NARS Sin Blush
I shudder at the expense. But, yes indeed, that would be my perfect stash, and additionally, I think all of these products last a really long time (at least three years), with the exception of the Becca blush (about a year).
Labels: becca, caron, cle de peau, kevyn aucoin, nars, stephane marais, ysl
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March 31, 2007 12:56 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
It doesn't seem overly expensive to me. In fact it's occurred to me more and more, that I spend less on beauty products now than I did before, even if the individual products are more expensive. |
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Beauty Notes: Becca Wild Orchid Creme Blush
Posted by Dain, Monday, December 26, 2005 2:50 PM (Eastern)
I would like to do a brief review of this product, because I think it a rather momentous upgrade. I've been faithful to one blush, NARS Desire, for a very, very long time. Longer than most people keep their computers, anyway. Now, there is nothing wrong with Desire, it is still consummate perfection for my coloring (as I've said before, match your blush to yourself, not to your other makeup or to your clothing), but Wild Orchid, in some ways, is even better. It's not as bright, and it's got a cool lilacky hue to it, but it's the same sort of bright, uncompromising pink that looks very good with my pale, yellow skin and dark hair. It comes in a teeny mirrored compact (not much use), and you may think, $25 for a cream blush? Especially one so wee and unassuming? Fret not, this stuff takes a very small dab indeed. It's easy to blend (very important with cream blushes), even on my dry skin, and it looks much more natural and subtle than Desire, because powder blushes do sit on top of the skin, instead of melting into like nobody's business. I don't know how long it might last for those whose skins have oilier dispositions, but I have no problems at all with it lasting—indeed, it seems that Wild Orchid lasts longer than Desire. I'm not really "wowed" by this product, because it is a very similar effect to that of a product I've long loved, but this is a brilliant upgrade.
Labels: beauty notes, becca, face
Beauty Notes: Hauling (11.27.05)
Posted by Dain, Monday, November 28, 2005 3:38 PM (Eastern)
A few of the things I've been hankerin' after...
Becca Wild Orchid Creme Blush $25
L'Occitane Shea Butter $7
Tweezerman Slant Tweezers $20
PHYTO Phyto 7 $24
NARS Gothika Lip Gloss $22
Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental $40 (I got it off ebay)
Dior Brun Casual $25 (also ebay... why pay $49.50?)
Labels: beauty notes, becca, dior, hauling, l'occitane, nars, phyto, serge lutens, tweezerman
Beauty Notes: Wishlist! (10.14.05)
Posted by Dain, Monday, October 17, 2005 8:39 PM (Eastern)
I am full of unrequited desire these days. As if the Clé de Peau palette, fabulous as it may be, were enough! Am I, or am I not, a makeup junkie?
- Becca Amaryllis blush $25: What is it about Lucky that gets my credit card itching? They've put this under "Sold out everywhere!" (incentive enough), and describe it as "so creamy it can double as a sheer lipstick, and the flush you're left with is amazing—a rosy-cheeked, gently tipsy glow that makes everyone look prettier." What's not to love? If only it weren't, actually, sold out everywhere. Because this Sephora Gift Card is burning a hole in my pocket and I want. (I'm also curious about Wild Orchid, which is much like Desire, and Turkish Rose, which is Becca's bestseller, both featured in Allure.)
- Serge Lutens: Tubéreuse Criminelle and Vetiver Oriental. Both non-export, both glorious, I'm frankly out of my mind as to how I'm gonna get my little paws on them. One for cozy fall school days, the other for brilliant nights out (I'm gilding a pill here, but I suppose one dreams, in fragrance).
- Biotherm Smile Shine Duoshine Lipstick #129 $14: It's sheer, it's moisturizing, with no taste, no scent. The shade is a cross between MAC O and MAC Red Haute—but sheer. That's just... perfection. A holy grail, in concept, realized.
- Tod's computer bag in cognac leather $1750-1950: This is in the men's collection. The most luxurious, unbelievably gorgeous, monstrously priced schoolbag ever. Ah, well.
- Caron face powder $45: There's something tantalizing about something deemed perfection, and is only limited distribution. I've been looking for a powder, just something to apply all over for wee coverage and gorgeous skin (one hopes), but I don't like how foundation feels on my skin (and I've no use for tinted moisturizer). So, it would either be a primer (such as the ones by YSL, By Terry, Clé de Peau, Becca, Giorgio Armani, etc.) or a powder. "But which one?", I wondered. Guerlain? Gorgeous, but expensive ($135... $90-ish on ebay). T. LeClerc (too confusing, with all the shades). And then, I heard of Caron. Everything I could ask for, impeccable quality, gorgeous packaging, lovely scent, and flawless finish—call the Caron boutique at Madison Avenue, they send samples. Now if only I can figure out which color...
- Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch SuperDrive $1699: I am simply a woman who has been badly treated by Compaqs. Apples are overpriced, but they won't crash and burn. Reliability over price, I say, especially when my files are involved.
- MAC Rich Ground Fluidline $13.50: Teddy is such a great color, but not much for lasting power. Fluidlines are tenacious, so I want Rich Ground (which is supposedly identical in shade to Teddy).
- a big, bountiful, winter white sweater $138: I love the idea of this huge white thing coming at ya... and I've found the perfect one, at J.Crew, the Aran Knit Turtleneck Sweater. It's just the right, palette-cleansing, bold hit of white, but it's slim and form-fitting too, so that one doesn't get lost in the cables. I'll wear it with tweedy pants, my zebra flats, and my vintage khaki trenchcoat—classic, punchy, cool. And maybe my raspberry scarf, if the mood suits me. And warm, too, which is not my usual mode. I also love Club Monaco's lightweight v-neck sweaters, in cool jewel tones, $68 each. They're more polished than t-shirts, and infinitely easier to wear (I find the bra-antics that follow the wearing of t-shirts too difficult to follow).
- a blush brush: oy, I need a new one. I'm thinking Bobbi Brown.
Labels: beauty notes, becca, biotherm, caron, j crew, mac cosmetics, serge lutens, tod's
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October 19, 2005 11:05 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Compaq????? I wouldn't touch a Compaq with a barge pole. |
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