Fashion Flash

On behalf of all of the wonderful bloggers who contribute to Fashion Flash, we wish you a very Happy New Year, with much good health, joy and happiness in the year ahead. This weeks topics include:

• How to travel in style
• Help finding your best colors
• Tips on how to succeed with your resolutions

In case you missed my earlier posts on my RoC Skincare giveaway, the contest runs December 31st,  until 11:59  Eastern Standard Time. Click on my post for your chance to win 12 fantastic RoC Skincare products and a $200 Visa gift card. 

Please click here to read all of our posts, the last of 2014, more to follow...

Much love,

xox,
DD

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Mary Mary Quite Contrary by divadebbi featuring suede shoes

Mary Katrantzou fit flare dress / Gianvito Rossi suede shoes / Marc Jacobs satchel handbag / Press / Philip B body cleanser, $33 / Women's Clothing - Luxury Fashion - ShopBAZAAR

Review: Conair Pro Infiniti Spin Brush

Conair Pro Infiniti Spin Brush
prices range from $53.99-63.99 

OMG Lovelies!!! Conair's new Pro Infiniti Spin Brush is a total game changer.  I will never be without this dryer again.  If you have ever dreamed of having salon like results at home, get in your car NOW and run to your nearest  24 hour drugstore to purchase it STAT.

This product is a miraculous multitasker, that  dries and styles your hair quickly, while adding shine, shape, lift and volume. It is designed with "True Ionic technology" that ensure shine, soft results.  The 2' inch barrel is coated with a ceramic finish, to protect hair from damage.  It has three settings, and the brush rotates in two directions, giving you the ability to curl hair under or flip it out. You can also use it without rotation, (though I don't know why one would.)

Happy Holidays!!!

To my lovely, loyal readers, I wish all you happy, safe, joyous Holidays.  I am so appreciative of your support and it still pleases and amazes me that I have readers from all over the world.

If you missed my last post, my friends at RoC Skincare, for whom I am a Brand Ambassador, have offered a spectacular end of the Holiday Season giveaway to my readers.  The contest runs until 11:59 New Year's Eve.  One lucky reader will win a gift basket filled with 12 RoC products and a $200 Visa Gift Card!!!

Click here for details on how to enter.

All the best and much love,

xox,
DD

Happy Holidays from RoC Skincare; a fantastic giveaway!!!

As a Roc Skincare Ambassador, I was delighted to receive an opportunity for one of my lucky readers to win a RoC gift basket filled with 12 amazing anti-aging products and a $200 Visa Gift Card! (details to follow.)

Happy Holidays indeed!

In addition, I had the chance to share some terrific skincare tips from Dr. Erin Gilbert, an NYC based board-certified dermatologist who consults with RoC. 

We asked Dr. Gilbert if she could provide some tips for how to handle some common skincare concerns, particularly as we work our way through the Holidays and the long winter ahead.  

Dr. Erin Gilbert

Dr. Gilbert weighs  in:

1. Puffy Eyes: 

“The best tool to combat puffy, under eye bags as well as rough texture is a Clarisonic brush! If you sleep on one side the lymph fluid will accumulate under that eye by morning. Or, if you consume a high salt diet at night (think Chinese takeout), you may experience puffiness under both eyes. I suggest gently massaging the skin under the eyes with a sensitive Clarisonic brush head for 60 seconds per side. The vibrations increase the flow of lymph to and from the congested area and reduce the size of the bags.”

2. Acne:
“Acne flares are often worsened by sugar and stress. While we can’t always eliminate stress from our day, we do have the power to control how much sugar we are consuming. There are obvious sources of sugar, like deserts, but there are also hidden sources of sugar that we may not be thinking of. Skim milk has been strongly linked to acne flares in dietary studies, so you are better off choosing whole milk or unsweetened almond or soy milk when you have the option. Also don’t be fooled by food that is ‘gluten free.’ Although it may sound healthy, it often contains more sugar than the traditional versions.”

3. Skin irritations – What can we do to keep our skin calm?
“Keeping your skin well moisturized during the winter is the first step to avoiding irritation and rashes that can spiral out of control. I suggest using a gentle body wash in the bath or shower, then applying a simple fragrance-free moisturizer all over the body daily. If you develop irritation, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream or calendula cream to the area for a week or so. You don’t want to use hydrocortisone for longer than a week on the face, so if your rash persists you should see a dermatologist.”

4. How to achieve skin that glows:

“Once you have taken care of your diet and hydration, you can consider adding additional steps to your beauty routine to get a holiday glow. If you have normal skin, consider adding a glycolic or salicylic acid toner to your regimen twice a week. This will gently remove dead skin cells and boost your skin’s radiance. Also consider adding a serum to your regimen. I like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum. It will increase your skin’s hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you are using it with a retinol at night, try to alternate days in the beginning to avoid over drying your skin.”

On to the good stuff!  How can you enter to win this generous giveaway courtesy of RoC skincare?

Meeting the Parents...next year

Meeting the Parents...next year by divadebbi featuring Piet Hein Eek

Antonio Marras circle skirt, $2,000 / Balmain heel boots, $1,785 / Alexander McQueen brown purse / Aurélie Bidermann earrings / Aurélie Bidermann bracelet jewelry / AERIN lips makeup / Piet Hein Eek wallpaper

Fashion Flash

This weeks Fashion Flash host is Pamela Lutrell who pens the lifestyle blog Over 50 Feeling 40.
As we wrap up the Holidays, the focus this week seemed to be about taking care of our overall good health.
Please click here to see the full wrap up.

In case you missed my original post on the perfect natural manicure  it's included here and in the FF post.

Enjoy!

xox,
DD

For Two Sagittarius Angels: Els and Lidia

For Two Sagittarius Angels: Els and Lidia by divadebbi featuring lips makeup

Alice Olivia shirts top / La Prestic Ouiston animal print trench coat, $1,045 / Bleached jeans, $99 / Christian Louboutin leopard boots / Vivienne Westwood red handbag, $700 / Hermès pre owned watch / Yves Saint Laurent eyeshadow / AERIN lips makeup

Fashion Flash

Mary Lou Floyd is a our lovely Fashion Flash Host this week.  Mary Lou is one half of team who write the fabulous lifestyle blog The Second Live Club.  We always do our best to bring you interesting posts on beauty, fashion, health and lifestyle.

This week, some of our topics include:

Consignment Shopping
Choosing great gifts for the men in your lives
A fabulous new blow dryer that reduces drying time by 70%
A chance to win a $300 skincare giveaway

And more... Click here to read them all.

Enjoy!

xox,
DD

Perfect Pink Gel Coat

Perfect Pink Gel Coat
$30 

The only time I ever had gorgeous, glossy, chip free nails, is when I broke down and got a "gel manicure". Oh, how I loved not fretting over spending the time and money on  a fresh manicure, only to look like a street urchin, within a day or two.

Sadly, the process wreaked havoc on  my nails.  After a few months, my once granite hard nails, were as thin and slight as rice paper.  It took a year for them to return to normal.

Last week, after 6 months of wearing barely there pinks, like Essie's Sugar Daddy, I thought it would be nice to switch it up and go for a little cuh-lah.  They were glorious for a few hours...What I want to know is how they could possible have chipped while I was sleeping.

Really???  Ugggghhh!!!!

I tried to patch them with a coat of sheer and a similar shade that had emulsified into a goopy mess in the 3 years it has resided in my medicine cabinet.  Honestly, they looked like awful. I removed all the polish and did the unthinkable and polished them myself with Salma Hayek Blush Peony Nail Lacquer... suffice to say, at least they looked tidy.

Today while doing a Sephora run, I stumbled upon a product in the checkout aisle that I never heard of, Perfect Pink Gel Coat.  I wasn't crazy about the price point, 30 bucks seemed steep, but I loved the promise of what it might be able to do for my nails.

Marsala: Pantone's Color of 2015

This week, Pantone announced that, "Marsala" is the color of 2015. Whatever  shade is chosen, will be widely used in both clothing and interior designs in the upcoming year.

Here is how Pantone describes it:

Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.

The Versatility of Marsala

• Equally appealing to men and women, Marsala is a stirring and flavorful shade for apparel and accessories, one that encourages color creativity and experimentation
• Flattering against many skin tones, sultry and subtle Marsala is a great go-to color for beauty, providing enormous highlight for the cheek, and a captivating pop of color for nails, shadows lips and hair.
• Dramatic and at the same time grounding, the rich and full-bodied red-brown Marsala brings color warmth into home interiors
• An earthy shade with a bit of sophistication, texture is the story in print and packaging. A matte finish highlights Marsala’s organic nature while adding a sheen conveys a completely different message of glamour and luxury.

Personally, I think it's very unattractive...it doesn't work for me in the realm of cosmetics, fashion or interiors.  There is only one place that I think it works:

That's all...

xox,
DD

Aurelie the Divine

Aurelie the Divine by divadebbi featuring a scrapwood wallpaper

Fendi strapless dress, $2,990 / Sophia Webster ankle boots / Lulu Guinness black purse, $745 / Aurélie Bidermann pendant earrings, $325 / Sacra eau de perfume, $47 / Piet Hein Eek scrapwood wallpaper / Lux Art Silks floral decor

Fashion Flash Monday

It's Fashion Flash Monday!  My dear friend, the beautiful Jackie Silver who writes Aging Backwards, is this week's host. Our fashion, beauty and lifestyle posts this week focus on the Holidays.

Click here  to read them all.  In case you missed my recent post on "temporary breast enhancement", a new trend in cosmetics procedure, you can catch it here.

Enjoy.

xox,
DD

Radiance for Less: Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer

Maybelline Dream Lumi TouchHighlighting Concealer
$7.99

Touche Eclat Concealer
$41.00

Over the years, I have splurged on YSL's cult classic Touche Eclat Concealer a number of times.  I have always thought it did a better job of highlighting than concealing, but nonetheless, I found its stripes well earned.

My other issue was that originally, Touche Eclat was offered in a limited range of shades, none quite right for me.  I knew of people who bought two and blended, but $82 is not in my wheelhouse to spend on concealers that don't, well, conceal.

When they finally expanded their offering to 12 shades, I reviewed it again and finally found a perfect match.

Yesterday, I spotted Maybelline's version of Touche Eclat, Dream Lumi Touch, described as a, "highlighting concealer". Housed in a far less glam plastic tube, it sports the same click pen applicator as Touche.  For $8 bucks, I couldn't resist buying it...

Good to the Last Drop: Make Up Forever HD Blush

Makeup Forever High Definition Blush
$26

From time to time, I think about taking a picture of my oft cleaned out, but still bulging makeup drawers and posting it for you to see.  It's a graveyard of half used lipsticks, concealers, eye shadows, mascaras and liners.

It's incredibly rare that I glom onto one product and use it until I'm scraping out the last bits with a Q-tip, but such was the case with my Makeup Forever HD Blush (210 Cool Pink). It's a cream formula that sculpts and defines the cheek area beautifully.

It's also can be very difficult to replace, particularly shade 210. 3 trips to Sephora yielded no success. Somehow, I missed the restocking days, so I ventured to Ulta, who sadly doesn't carry Makeup Forever
at all. 

On my last trip back to Sephora, I agreed to pay for it up front and have them send it to me free of charge.
It's on it's way, thank goodness.  So, I guess it's time to elevate Makeup Forever HD Blush to Holy Grail
status.

Ya.  It's that good...

xox,
DD

A Cinderella Story: Temporary Breast Augmentation

Amanda Sanders underwent temporary breast augmentation before a weekend
getaway with a new boyfriends. (photo courtesy of Caryn Posnansky)

I think I may now have heard everything...At the end of the summer the New York Times published an article about women who are undergoing temporary procedure to enlarge their breasts.  The motivation is to enhance their appearance for important occasions, like their weddings. Since then, I have read other articles about this new cosmetic "trend".

Saline is injected in the nipple area and the skin is temporarily stretched.  It's possible for a woman to go from A to a C cup.  What's the glitch?  It lasts 24 hours and costs about $2500,  Some women are also doing it as a precursor to surgery, to get a birds eye view into what their breast augmentation might look like. (Surgeons who are doing the procedure do allow the money spent to be discounted from a permanent surgical procedure.

Seriously...Haven't these women ever heard of chicken cutlets???