Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Flashback Fridays: Kate Somerville 360 Body Towelettes
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| Kate Somerville 360 Body Self Tanning Towelettes 8/$48 |
In the interim, I will continue to use Kate Somerville's incredible, streak free, stink free, self tanning towelettes weekly. No other self tanner on the market produces such a beautiful, natural color; and I have tried them all, believe me.
I do wish they were less pricey and I have used them on my face...I have even gone so far as to cut them into squares and saved them in a baggie for daily use.
I finally broke out of my doldrums today, after saturating my face in the morning and at night with a fresh towelette. I think I smiled for the first time in a week. Alas, my box runneth dry, and it was time to refuel my pricey addiction but this time I did further damage:
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Jergens BB Body Perfecting Cream and a Giveaway!
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| Jergens BB Cream for the Body! $12.99 at CVS, Target and Walgreen stores |
This is not the first time Jergens has been at the forefront of a trend...Several years ago they introduced Natural Glow, the first body lotion that infused with a self tanner, that gradually imparted streak free color. It was a runaway best seller with supply outpacing demand.
Fast forward to Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream; their latest innovation, promises to hydrate, illuminate, firm, even skin tone and leave skin looking flawless in just 5 days. Simply use it as your everyday moisturizer to reap the beautiful benefits.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Grammy's 2014: The Lady and the Tramp
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| Taylor Swift resplendent in Gucci |
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| Taylor Swift Beautiful makeup and on trend side swept bangs and ponytail |
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| Taylor swift arriving in Gucci and performing in Alberta Ferretti |
Everything was perfectly balanced; her dress hair, makeup and jewelry to create an overall elegance that so often eludes women, who should frankly, know better. It all goes to prove that a woman can look ravishingly beautiful, with nary a boob in sight.
I have never considered myself to be a prude or a feminist, but I didn't quite get the whole Bey/ Jay Z thing. I'm not saying she didn't look incredible, she did, and I think she is a very talented performer, especially having seen her perform live... But really peeps, this show began at 8:00 pm on network television and there were kiddies watching:
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Grande Lash MD: 2.5 month update
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| Grand Lash MD |
Back in November, I wrote about my friend Suzanne's
Me jealous??? NAH!
Years ago, I had tried Latisse, and though I did experience spectacular growth, I pretty much felt as though I had ground glass in my eyes 24/7. Technically, I think the Latisse peeps would call that a reaction that would warrant discontinuation, but Diva was dumb and determined...Not surprisingly, I could not sustain using it.
My eyes are not perfect either using Grande Lash MD. I recently saw my Ophthalmologist, Dr. Donna Denzel for an over due check up. (FYI, for the dilator adverse, like me, find out if your practice has the technology to take a picture of your iris instead. There was an additional cost of $55, but it was a tiny price to pay for avoiding the hours of discomfort.)
Happily, my prescription for near nearsightedness hasn't changed in 30 years, only requiring me to wear them for night driving and theater, and I don't need reading glasses. Maybe all my anti-aging stuff I apply topically is being absorbed!
I have both oily eyelids (SteriLid is a fabulous product for keeping the eye area pristine) and dry eye. Was the Grande Lash MD exacerbating it? Maybe just a bit, though she didn't say I had to discontinue using it, just skip a night here and there.
Yay!
Here's what my lashes looked like one month after I started using Grande Lash MD:
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Voluma XC- The New Fountain of Youth
Back in September, my interest was peaked when I read a NY Times article declaring "the cheek" as newest area of interest to recreate a youthful appearance. "Baby Faces", it seems, are having a moment...The Daily Mail UK also picked up on the story.
The problem? Mid-Volume Face Loss...
Who knew?
Here is an excerpt from the NY Times article explaining, "The Triangle of Youth":
"In a young face, the widest part is at the cheeks", dermatologist Dr Marina I Peredo explained to the New York Times.
+5
New trend: Dermatologist Dr Marina I Peredo says cheek fillers are becoming increasingly popular
"But as we age, the cheeks deflate and excess skin falls toward the jawline. . . That makes the triangle flip upside down so that the widest part of the face is now at the jawline."
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Flashback Friday: Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick
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| Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick $6.99 |
I promised to focus a bit more on drugstore beauty, as I have recently strayed into the the stratosphere, and when I was repurchasing past faves, to bring them to your attention again.
I first discovered Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick this summer, when I misplaced my makeup case. I was still hoping to recover it, (I did) but needed to replace a few basics, so I wanted to do it on the cheap.
I'm a Rimmel fan. For drugstore beauty, I think they have some of the best offerings. As soon as I spied Piccadilly Pink, I was a goner. It was the perfect summer pink:
Celebrity Street Style: Jessica
Calypso St Barth long sleeve t shirt / Pull&Bear black jeans, $9.92 / Yves Saint Laurent leather boots, $745 / Valextra green purse / Yves Saint Laurent scarve / A Détacher crochet hat / Dolce & Gabbana dolce gabbana glasses, $260 / Banana Republic silver scarve / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics eyeshadow, $80 / Pier 1 Imports floral decor
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Beauty Blogger DivaDebbi's Winter Skincare Tips
Beauty Blogger DivaDebbi's Winter Skincare Tips by divadebbi
In addition to fashion, Polyvore has always has a sweet spot for beauty and recently has added a section for Home as well. Though it's my daily creative playground, Polyvore is also the worlds largest retail fashion site, so it makes sense that they want to expand into other areas. Bottom line, E Commerce.
Surprisingly, the beauty never really inspires me. The preference is for trends and frankly, I'm not a huge believer in them for the face...no matter who created it for the season, I'm never going to wear aqua shadow and bright coral lips...ya know???
On this snowy evening, I created several fashion sets and couldn't resist throwing my hat in the ring for this Winter Skincare contest, asking us to share our secrets.
Mine are pretty basic, but they hold me in good stead:
Monday, January 20, 2014
Benefit The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine Powder
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| Benefit The POREfessional Zero Shine Powder $30 |
Sure!!!
When I was in my twenties and thirties, my skin was fairly oily and it drove me mad, particularly during the humid NY summer months. Rather than piling on powders, I did have some good success with oil controlling lotions, applied before makeup. In the long run, oily skin does have an advantage; skin does age a bit more gracefully; just rewards.
I don't use face powder, but if I did, it would be loose and transparent. The only reason I even picked up the POREfessional was wanting to see how this little gizmo worked...did Benefit figure out how to make loose powder portable?
Sunday, January 19, 2014
DivaDebbi's 2014 Sag Awards Report Card
I love the Arts and Fashion, so when it comes to the big 4; the Golden Globes, Screen Actor's Guilds Awards, Emmy's and the Academy Awards, I am a rapt viewer.
I live for the highs and the lows on the Red Carpet. I continue to be gobsmacked by actresses, some incredibly seasoned and lauded for their fashion sense, who still manage some epic failures; nee Jennifer Lawrence at the GG's last week.
But hey, that's half the fun...
Here are my picks for the best and the worst dressed at the 2014 SAG Awards:
A+ The Untouchables-
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| Sag Award Winner Lupito Nylong'o Ravishing again, in Gucci |
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| Beautiful Amy Adams in Antonio Berardi Flawless! |
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| Anna Gunn, much slimmer than her Breaking Bad Days killed it, in Monique L'Hullier with Irene Neuwirth earrings |
A Listers-
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| Veep Winner Julia Louis Dreyfus looked fabulous in an on trend navy and black Monique L'Hullier (though the bust fit could have been improved) |
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| Redemption for Jennifer Lawrence and Raf Simons of Dior Soooo much better than last weeks oft parodied GG debacle |
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| Gretchen Mol in J. Mendel This looked fresh, modern and sexy to me. |
C List- Missed the Mark-
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| Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Yes, they are swooning, but why? I can't take my eye off the heavily draped sequin bib. A rare miss for Cate the Great |
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| Sandra Bullock in Lanvin Lovely color, but the fabric looks heavy and cheap Merry Xmas! |
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| Michelle Dockery in Prada for Hooters... Now serving table 7 |
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| Julia Roberts in a Valentino Jumpsuit Cheap and Cheesy, it looks like she bought this OTR at Dress Barn |
Epic F (ailure)
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| Juliette Lewis in Vivienne Westwood Motel 6 curtains (hopefully flame retardant) |
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| Emma Thompson in William Vintage and Dr. Scholl's. Sake anyone? |
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| Meryl Streep in a Stella McCartney tattered shroud (I'm a wee tired of her, bored, "oh, must I be here again" ensembles.) Would it be so terrible to dress up a bit and look like you care? |
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| Julie Bowen in a Tromp L'oeil Carolina Herrera gown Tromp me once, shame on you--- Tromp me twice... |
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| Kerry Washington visibly pregnant, in a black bra revealing Prada crop top and bedskirt (and I'm predicting Girl...yes, you know the old adage...) |
This is an unmitigated disaster, right up their with Bjork's swan costume. I don't know what possessed her...
Jennifer Lawrence must have at least breathed sigh of relief--in one short week, the worst dressed mantle was passed.
That's all...
xox,
DD
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Flashback Fridays: Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara
It occurred to me the other day, that certain products deserve another mention. With all products I try, buy and sample for review, if I'm going back for another round, it's because nothing has bettered it.
Such was the case yesterday. I was at the dregs of both my Benefit They're Real Mascara and Smashbox Full Exposure. I remembered how impressed I had been with Make Up Forever's Smokey Extravagant Mascara, and decided to purchase it this time, (the first time I had received a sample in a Glam Media goodie bag).
These are my lashes today with one coat of Smokey Extravagant. I particularly love how the bottom lashes look (not to mention how nicely my lashes have grown, just two months into my Grande Lash Md trial, thanks again Suzanne!)
They neither chipped nor flaked all day and I received several compliments.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
What is the Best Under Eye Concealer?
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| Tarte Maracula Creaseless Concealer $24 |
By nature, we are helpers and women love to share their hard won Holy Grail finds...believe me, I try to do that with you whenever I find one.
Naturally, I read all 106 comments and threw my own comment into the ring, (IT Bye Bye Under Eye and Amazing Concealer). Still, I knew that there would be some new temptations, particularly having just spent and hour and half in my colorist Christopher Hornauer's chair, with visible circles peeking through my concealer.
What came up most frequently in reader's comments, was Nars Creamy Concealer, which I have and do use, but don't absolutely love. Other faves??? Cle de Peau, by Terry, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and Tarte's Maracula Creaseless Concealer.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
L'Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner: A small wonder
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| L'Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner $10.99 |
After all these years, I'm still of student of my own face...Recently, I was back on the hunt for a Holy Grail liner, realizing that I lacked one for my DivaDebbi 2013 Best of Beauty Blog. Despite any desire to create a more nuanced eye, the truth is I look tired without defined liner. Even when my makeup is applied professionally, they are not using less liner; just blending it better.
I reviewed L'Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner last year, when I was looking to avoid looking like Mariska Hargitay. Don't get me wrong, I think she is drop dead beautiful, but I also think she needs to lighten up at this point. Do you agree?
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| Mariska Hargitay |
I absolutely LOVE the texture of this creamy, easy to apply gel and the perfect thin lining brush that comes with, making it a snap to apply. I do suggest blotting some off with a tissue, since the product is dense, to avoid Mariska eye.