One Perfect Thing; Chantecaille Peony Long Lasting Eyeshadow

Chantecaille Long Lasting Eyeshadow
in Peony $28 for starter for refillable compact

The one thing, I'm not sure you Darling readers truly grasp, is that my raison d'etre, is to find the Holy Grail of every beauty category, so I can scratch one more off my list. 7 years in, don't you see I'm really just trying to simplify my routine and yours by extension?!

How do I know when I can't live without something?  When I use it down to the nub, or have to eek out the remnants with a Q-tip or makeup sponge and then buy it again and again.

One example is my lip pencil---Nothing can or ever will come close to the utter, rosy nude perfection of its color and semi dry consistency of MAC's Soar. I've tried and failed and now I just buy it bulk.

I love the look of a very full lid. The best way I have found to achieve that, is with a barely pink hued shadow, that is not matte but doesn't shimmer. I have scoured. The difference is very subtle. It can't be too beige or too bright.  I have bought and returned at least a dozen, each time thinking I found, "the one".

And then I did...

Fashion Flash

This week it's my turn to host Fashion Flash. Each week, we strive to bring you interesting posts on beauty, fashion, and wellness for women over 40. They are a savvy group and I hope if you enjoy their websites, that you bookmark them, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

ICYM my post on how to create the perfect fake tan, please click here to get the skinny on my secret sauce...it only took 30 years :)

Not a fan of turnips? Melanie of Society Wellness may just change your mind! Society Wellness shares 2 great ways to cook and eat turnips in this post. 

So you are trying to lose weight and knock off a few winter pounds. Mirabai Holland, Certified Health Coach and Exercise Physiologist gives you some pointers.

Jodell from Black Cat Plus  gives us the 411 on the difference between how Plus Size Models and Plus Size Women are portrayed. US Weekly Takes A Look at how Plus Size Models Portray an Unrealistic Silhouette Compared to Real Plus Size Women.

Deb of No Nonsense Beauty Blog looks at a real beauty fruit.  Click here to read more.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author of THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AFTER 50 and AARP YouTube Host, wants to take you beyond sunscreen! Barbara offers her best tips on how to shield your skin from the sun . . . from the inside out! 

Surprised to see suede as a fashion trend for spring?  Josphine Lawlan of Chic at Any Age gives advice on how to wear it best here.

Fashion and beauty blogger, Pamela Lutrell, shares a skincare proceedure with no needles, knives, or scars...just youthful skin.   Join her.  (And I want what she's having too!)

Ever dreamed of a custom made dress that fits your body like a glove? PIOL dress company lets YOU be the designer of your own custom made dress. You choose the fabric and style. Take a look at the dress Cindy at Prime Beauty designed at get a $100 off code too!

Sometimes your second life is a redo of the talent and skill that brought you success in your first.  Learn how Donna McDonald got some romance in hers.

Enjoy!

xox,
DD

Sephora's Lift Off Lash Comb

Sephora's Lift Off Lash Comb
$10.00

How is it possible that I have been living without this??? I actually saw this featured as a metal comb made by Tweezerman.  I can't recall if it was a blog, an article, a tweet, or a Pinterest post.  All I know is that I needed one...STAT.

In store, Sephora's was the first one that popped into view.  The Tweezerman could easily have been there as well, but hey, it surely would have cost a bit more and how much difference could there be between the two???

Exuviance Giveaway; We Have a Winner!!!

Congratulations to Andrea Darst!!! Andrea is the lucky reader who won my DivaDebbi Giveaway Contest. Andrea will be receiving  Exuviances DePuffing Eye Serum, a $72 value, from my Exuviance goodie bag. It is a goodie, and I hope you will enjoy using it as much as I do each morning Andrea.

Thank you to all who participated.  Keep reading! Next time it could be you!!!

xox,
DD

Cracking the Code to the Perfect Fake Tan

Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun
$15.99 in Greenwich, cheaper
everywhere else.

It only took 30 years or so of trial and error, but at last, it's done...

Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun is not to be confused with Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.  The former is an instant self tanner, that also continues to develop. Nicely, it is also intended blur imperfections.  The latter is a temporary spray that also does the same, (think body makeup, Tots and Tiara's, you get the idea.)

Airbrush Sun only comes in two shades, Light-Medium and Medium-Tan. Fair skin Girls could stop reading now...They forgot about you, but I didn't!

Naturally, I gravitated to the darker of the two, Medium-Tan. When I used it the next morning, I found it to be the color and consistency of a Jello Chocolate Pudding Snack.

My beloved  Holy Grail
Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion
$8.99

Ruh Roh.

The first time I used it I knew I was in trouble.  It was too dark, streaky, difficult to apply and I was worried my hands might be henna colored for a week--I had to scrub like a surgeon to remove it.

Slim Sonic Toothbrush- Brighter Smiles on the Go

Slim Sonic Toothbrushs
$15.00
includes one AAA Battery and  two brushes

When it comes to my teeth, I'm a bit obsessive.  I brush twice daily with a sonic toothbrush, I floss and use Waterpik, I have trays and prescription goop to amp up my enamel and I have my teeth professionally cleaned bi-annually and whitened several times a year.

When I received an offer from my friends at The Woods & Co. to sample Violife's  adorable, portable sonic toothbrush, I accepted in a flash...I already have a zip lock bag full of 'stim-u-dents' in my desk drawer at work and never travel without floss,  Why not a slim leopard toothbrush for my handbag, so I can brush at a moments notice?

Exuviance Skincare for Me and You!

One of the lovely rewards about being a beauty blogger, is the opportunity to attend events to learn about new products and receive treatments. Inevitably, we also get to leave with a generous goodie bag. I'd love to share one of the products I received with you, so read on please to find out how you may win it.

When my good friends at Melissa Kelz PR, (a firm that represents some of the finest skincare lines, Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons), invited me for a mini facial at Townhouse Spa sponsored by Exuviance, I said yes, before I even checked my calendar.

Townhouse Spa
39 W. 56th St. NYC
212-245-8006

I am a huge fan of Exuviance products. Their Age Reverse Toning Neck Cream is a wonder.  I included in my Best of 2014 list of products for one simple reason; it works. I am never without it and use it twice daily.

I have already used many of their products, and have written about my fabulous results with Performance Peel AP, Age Reverse Day Cream and Age Reverse Night Lifting cream.

Amazing Amal

Back in September, George and Amal tied the knot in Italy. The weeks worth of festivities before, during and after the wedding were widely chronicled.  I  wrote about  how besotted I was with her amazing style, grace and range, from short and whimsical to formal and ravishing.

Well done!

The Clooney's arrived in NYC in February.  George is filming "Money Monster" in Queens and Amal, to the thrill of Columbia's discreet law students, is a guest lecturing.  In the evenings, they have been spotted at NY's hottest restaurants as well as George's old favorites, where he holds court at his usual tables.

Perfect turned out, head to toe, to lecture at Columbia Law School
Wowza!

It has been reported, that Amal was taken under the wing of none other than Anna Wintour for style guidance, (but obviously was not consulted about her only gaffe; wearing long white gloves to the Oscars.) Could one possibly have a more connected fairy Godmother???  Me thinks not. According to the New York Post. rumors of a Vogue cover were soon sparked after the two were seen lunching at the Lamb's Club last month. The New York Times recently wrote about Amal's ascending star and captured some of her recent outings on this slide show.

Gone Fishin'

Ahhh but you know better... The only water I will see is from the view perched on my deliciously decadent bed,  ocean to the left and bay to the right, I am looking forward to some well needed R&R from the world's longest NY winter...

Temps were in the 30's when we left--I mean seriously Girls, it's April 9th for God's sake.

If motivation strikes, I will write a post or two...I shouldn't leave you hanging about the concealer I found that obliterates all traces of dark circles. The only other thing that has ever achieved that feat is a vacation. I've been using it before I got here, so I actually arrived looking the way I usually leave.

This is a game changer, (and yes I know, I thought nothing could top Tarte's CC Undereye Concealer, but clearly I was wrong.)

Imagine the possibilities after a several days of sleeping in and lounging...

xox,
DD

Beauty Bargain Alert: NYX Eyleliner Pencils

NYX Retractable Eyeliner
$4.50 at drugstores nationwide

I had completely forgotten, in the midst of my eyeliner conundrum, that my good friend Jane had emailed me awhile back about her lucky find...NYX Retractable Eyeliners.

She swore they were not only good, but better, than the Bobbi Brown liners she had been using at a fraction of the price and loving them for their glideability and long wear.

Though available in 18 self sharpening shades, you will probably only find a fraction of them at the drugstore, but the ones available are the good old standby shades that most of us prefer anyway--black, dark brown, charcoal and navy.

Pur Minerals 4-1 Tinted Moisturizer

Pur MInerals 4-1 Tinted Moisturizer
$34

I am such a Pur Minerals fan! Honestly, I  have loved nearly every product I have ever sampled or purchased.  Regular DivaDebbi readers know I appreciate multi-tasking products. I'm always looking for time savers and of course my quest, is to find the Holy Grail products for every category that one use for daily makeup needs. (Pur's Chateau Kisses Lip Plumping Lip Gloss is one such example--a stain and gloss hybrid.)

I spotted Pur Minerals 4-1 Tinted Moisturizer at Ulta and I could tell just by looking at the "Tan" shade that this would be a perfect match for my skin tone.  I immediately asked to sample it and was shocked to hear that Ulta, "does not sample".

Really???

Big miss...I can't tell you how many products I boomerang back to Sephora to purchase after sampling. Fortunately for me, my friends at Tractenberg PR partner with Pur, so I reached out and asked if I could receive a sample.  Happily, it was in stock and they nicely complied.

The Country Girl

The Country Girl by divadebbi featuring blue home decor

Oscar de la Renta sleeveless dress / MSGM leather shoes, $455 / Pierre Hardy color block purse / Nouv Elle pearl jewelry, $30 / AERIN lips makeup / Blue home decor

Maybelline Master Kajal Liner

Maybelline Master Kajal Line
$8.99

I decided to change up my eye make up routine. My new look is minimal shadow, less mascara and bolder liner. Somehow, it's looking fresher to me.  The only glitch has been trying to get the liner down.

What's the point of simplifying if the technique is forcing me to waste precious time in the clean up department???

Smashbox pot gel eyeliner was a slippery foe. The cap on Eyeko's Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, fell off in my makeup bag 3 nights in a row.  If there is anything left in there, it's no where to be found. Rimmel ScandalEyes Gel Eyeliner had a very dry texture that "skipped" in spots as I tried to apply it. I searched CVS for an old Almay standby, a waterproof gel pencil, but I think it's been retired to the beauty graveyard.

What's a Girl to do?