Beauty Alert: Channeling Claire Danes in J. Mendel Spring 2013

Claire Danes/Emmy Contest by divadebbi 

Gilles Mendel's show for J. Mendel is always a hot ticket at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week.  With his Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Gilles celebrated his 10th year designing ready-to-wear, for his families venerable 130 year old fur house.

Since fur and leather is such an integral part of the house of J. Mendel, it's surprising when one of his Spring/Summer collections is every bit as beautiful as a Fall/Winter show.

This stunning collection of perfectly cut, draped and water color pleated chiffon's and jacquard dresses, was inspired by photographs of the Kawachi Fuji garden in Japan. There were also florals, gloriously saturated color and crisp, architectural shapes. Naturally, touches of fur highlighted several exits.

Enlighten Me

O.k. Girls, I can use your help!  I realized this morning that there must ONE mascara out there, that is accomplishing what the THREE I am currently using do!  Bear in mind, that mascara is one of those places that I like to cheat, if at all possible, so if you got yours at Target or CVS , you have my rapt attention.

The Melting Months

The humidity is already starting to creep up in New York, giving me pause to think about my eye cream/serum/moisturizer/primer/tinted moisturizer routine...somethings got to give.

As if a Genie was looking over my shoulder, that afternoon I received a sample, (via messnger)!, of COVERGIRL & Olay's Simply Ageless Serum Primer... Thank you Beauty Gods!!!

I used it yesterday for the first time. Multi-tasking as always, I applied it and then went to check in on what fresh commotion my new kitty was stirring up in the bedroom. When I came back, I looked in the mirror and literally hummed a few bars of "I Feel Pretty" to myself. Wow! Flawless. Primed. What I didn't realize was how hydrating it was. I could easily have skipped the additional moisturizer...by midday I was a puddle.

Today I tried again, this time just using eye cream, Simply Ageless Serum Primer and Revlon's Spa Illuminator in Bronze Light. A much better plan. My skin feels hydrated and dewy, not excessively oily---no mop and shine today.

I loved the light, creamy texture of this newly combined product, Olay's Regenerist Serum, on its own, as a slippery, eel like feeling, (that literally makes my skin crawl, despite a devoted following). It promises, "8 hours of continuous hydration, a facelift effect, Amino-Peptides to improve texture, glycerin to firm skin's appearance, and increased rate of exfoliation over time". As well, it is oil free and suitable for sensitive skin. Now that's multi-tasking.

CoverGirl & Olay's Simply Ageless Serum costs $13.99 and will be available in mass-market outlets nationwide in July. Don't fret...you will still have two thirds of the summer left to try it. If it really helps me achieve results, I will be sure to continue using it, long after the melting months.

Here's hoping...

xox,
DD

Enticed

I am down to the last of my magazine subscriptions. Gone are the days when W, Vogue, Town & Country and New York Magazine, fought for space in my mailbox. Who on earth has the time anymore? I read many magazines online these days or more leisurely, while sitting in salons having something lacquered.

My Allure arrived today. I will feel a wisp of sadness when it expires, but not more than that. As much as I like Linda Wells and enjoy reading her monthly take on all things Beauty, I am bored to tears with the exact same format and features, month after month, year in year out.

I realized after finishing it from cover to cover, (in less than 20 minutes), that all the things I got excited about in this issue, were found in the ads not in the editorial content...not so good.

Here is what's on my wish list:

1) Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara. Strengthening and lengthening??? Of course I am in.

2) Essie's Summer Collection. If they showed multiples, I'd be cutting and pasting them on my toes in between typing. Love them all, (except Pretty Edgy, which is a wee too Emerald City for my taste).

3) L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day. I have been tempted to buy Scott Barnes Body Bling for some time...I'm hoping this will be a cheap and cheerful replacement and I will save about $25 bucks in the process.

4) Infiniti Conair's You Curl. A clampless curling iron??? This is right up there with Penicillin. Do any of Target's stores stay open 24 hours??? I need this stat.

5) Garnier Fructis Style Anti-Humidity Hairspray...eventually the humidity will hit 90%, and I will lock and load.

6) Exuviance. An at home 25% Glycolic peel, that consists of two sets of pads, one infused with activator, the other, neutralizer. Easy peasy. I like it.

7) S-G Invisible Dry Shampoo- The last dry shampoo I used was PSSSSST. Christie Brinkley was a CoverGirl. I don't know why I need this now, (obviously I haven't missed it), but I do. Fortunately, this appeared on the second to last page.

Who knows what else Allure would have enticed me with? In retrospect, maybe I was too hard on them...they did their part. I still want...

xox,
DD

Everything is Looking Rosy

When I think of Revlon Lipsticks, I think of a an aspragus colored tube of their still classic "Cherries in the Snow", that always tasted vaguely of Jean Nate.

I am not a fan of perfumed lipticks, so Revlon, Chanel, Estee Lauder and Maybelline's new Color Sensation Lipcolor, do not usually share face time with my face.

On a whim, during a CVS run last night, I spent a few minutes perusing Revlon's new Colorburst Lipstick display. Pre-tay, pre-tay colors, I must admit. I also liked the updated square, matte, quilted, "tube"...Quelle Chanel, shall we say.

For 8.99 and a guaranteed return policy, 04 Soft Rose was looking, well, rosy. For once in my life, I decided to hold off till morning to test drive it, when my lips were void of all product and I could get a true read on the taste and texture, (normally I am applying it on the way home, while I steer with my knees).

What a hugely pleasant surprise!!! It had a delicious gel like consistency, that glides on like silk, and a deeply infused "burst" of color. The added kick was long wear. I also adore the color, which is a bit on the coral side of rose. I've been trying to figure out how to introduce this Spring's coralmania into my lip wardrobe, without looking like an extra from West Side Story. 04 Rosy, fits my Playbill to a tee.

Revlon's Colorburst , is an $8.99 lipstick, that feels and wears like a lip product that could be three times the price. If you log on to Revlon's website you can theoretically get a three dollar coupon, (I couldn't even access more information, which was all I was after), but maybe you will be luckier.

I am already feeling lucky enough, just to have found it at all.

xox,
DD

Fake Bake

The longer I am back from vacation, the darker my tan becomes...it's an odd phenomenon, one that has its roots in self-tanner, deep bronzers and denial.

Naturally, everything in my current makeup repertoire was too light, so I went cruising for a cheap and cheerful fix at CVS. I happened upon Revlon's Spa Illuminator and was immediately drawn to the golden glow emanating from the Bronze Light the darkest shade offered. Who wouldn't want to look like Halle Berry??? SPF 18, oil-free, $12.99 and sheer...no downside, whatsoever.

I like the applicator, (just make sure to click it to the "off" position, when you are done). The product squeezes onto a (washable) foundation brush, that can be used to sweep the product all over your face, or as a highlighter. The "micronized crystals" do impart a subtle amount of luminosity, which is good, since I am all about "the glow", as you know. The texture feels exactly like tinted moisturizer. I am using it in place of foundation and finishing it with a dusting of Christoper Drummond Bronzing Powder in Sun and a pop of Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Pale Pink on the apples of my cheeks.

Is Revlon's Spa Illuminator up there, with the new Big Kahuna, Nars Orgasm Illuminator??? I honestly don't know yet, because I haven't tried it, but of course I will keep you posted...after my next vacation.

xox,
DD

Length Times Width

Now that I've got my lash length issues back on track, (thank you neuLash), I started obsessing about their width. I was thinking about a fibrous mascara that I used in my youth. I'm pretty sure there were carpet fibers in it... literally, little woolly bits. Loved it!

Trolling the aisles of CVS, you can't help but notice the dizzying array of mascara options, often with a half dozen offerings within one brand, plus the waterproof versions. Oy. Nothing rang a bell though.

I decided to try Maybelline's new XXL Pro Volume, primarily because I like "primers"... There is something about haphazardly slapping on that first coat, with reckless abandon, that I find oddly liberating. The primer is white, just like most, but this one thickly coats every lash from root to tip. Definitely the porker phase. I kept looking for a bit of bits, but this is clearly a shag free formula.

After experimenting with: 1) Priming the one top only and immediately adding the mascara coat. 2) Priming one top and bottom and then applying the second coat and 3) Priming all the lashes and then applying the second coat, without a doubt one wins. This product works best when the lashes are still wet and tacky from the primer.

Result??? Nice. Fat lashes, skinny price. All good. Oh and I finally remembered that mascara from my youth. Drum roll...Revlon's FabuLash. Will I be rushing to buy it? Nah. It's unlikely it could ever measure up to my expectations...unless of course it's still infused with uh stuff.

Anyone???

xox,
DD