L'Oreal Sublime Self Tanning Serum; A great find

L'Oreal Sublime Self Tanning Serum
$10.99 3.4 fl. Oz.

If you can find it, that is...

As soon as I saw this advertised, I wanted to try it.  This is a completely new medium for self tanner. No one has ever produced a self tanning serum.  

Touting its ability to last for up to two weeks, I was desperate to get my hands on it. As well, the reviews I read were glowing; easy to apply, not too stinky, streak free, golden and long lasting.  Now all I had to do was find it...

I struck out at two CVS's in Greenwich. Ditto one in Newport as well as a Rite Aid. I was contemplating ordering it online, when I got lucky and snagged the last one at Ulta.

Summer Hideaway

Summer Hideaway by divadebbi featuring cotton area rugs

Stone_Cold_Fox clothing, $370 / Charlotte olympia shoes, $555 / Jimmy Choo cateye sunglasses / AERIN sun care / Hermès Cabas Pm Beach Bag / Dash Albert cotton area rug, $345 / ETIVAL Blanc, $1.64

Just My Style...

Just My Style... by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Marni white shirt / Victoria Beckham skirt, $1,250 / Gianvito Rossi suede shoes / Oasis black handbag, $31 / Pier 1 Imports floral decor / Pier 1 Imports flower arrangement / ETIVAL Blanc, $1.65

Palladio Botanical & Vitamin Infused Cosmetics

Palladio Precision Liners
$6 each at Ulta

I realize these liners look more like they were plucked from a box of Crayola crayons. Fear not! The one that I forgot I purchased on a whim from Ulta a few weeks back, is actually a gorgeous dark espresso. Palladio Precision Liners are also available in black and charcoal grey.

We had quite a patch of warm weather and high humidity in the beginning of the week and I have been searching for a great budge proof liner that glides on handily.  I somewhat achieved it, when I rediscovered my Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner. I do love it, but two challenges remain; it's pricey and required endless sharpening. Before you know it, you've whittled yourself down to a nub...

What a happy surprise Palladio Precision Liner is! For starters, you can hone the point to ice pick sharpness and for 6 bucks, who cares.  It does glide on beautifully, because they are silicone instead of wax based. Added bonus, the color lasts and lasts, without fading or smearing.
 

Hallelujah!

Beauty on the Go: Giovanni Hair Towelettes to the Rescue

Giovanni Hair Towelettes
10 Towelettes/6.99

Have you ever resorted to using bathroom hand lotion to tame frizz, particularly around the hairline?  I have!

I did a clever thing this summer.  Rather than wrestle the summers humidity wreaking havoc on my hair, I opted to have a Brazilian Express hair treatment. More mild, than the one that makes women look like an Afghan for 3 days, my Brazilian Express treatment, joyfully, could be washed and blown the very next morning.

Am I a little bitter than my sister Loren, she of the China doll hair gene, has never had to battle unruly beach head?  Maybe just a little...But now, I too, am unfrazzeled 24/7. Added bonus? My hair drys in half the time. My stylist Sonia says I won't need another treatment for another 2 weeks, so all in, it will have lasted 3 months of bliss.

Does this mean that every hair is always in place? Not exactly.  Days in the mid 90's capped with high humidity still need a little help.  When my friends at Kip Morrison PR asked me if I wanted to sample Giovanni Hair Towelettes, a single use touch-up towelettes, of course I accepted.

Trending: Fitted Overalls

Trending: Fitted Overalls by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Moschino white dress, $605 / Gianvito Rossi cowboy boots, $1,240 / Nancy Gonzalez summer handbag / Sydney Evan 14k gold necklace / Nyx eyeshadow, $8.78 / Korres lip care, $12 / Piet Hein Eek typography wallpaper / Pier 1 Imports floral decor / Orange Gingko Leaves Spray 38'' at Joann.com

Nantucket Wedding

Nantucket Wedding by divadebbi featuring black and white sandals

Valentino yellow lace dress / Yohji Yamamoto long black coat, $2,170 / L.A.M.B. black and white sandals / Gucci vintage pouch / Halcyon Days bangle jewelry / BEHR Premium Plus Ultra 8 oz. #580A-3 Rain Song Interior/Exterior...

Laura Geller Sculpting Bronzer

Laura Geller Bronzing Sculpting Bronzer
$36

I'm getting a little bitter about those Kardashian Girls getting all the credit for every beauty trend.  You can't walk into any store that sells cosmetics without bumping into their "sculpting" display. Every brand has come out with a sculpting set and they are pretty, pretty pricey.

I for one have been trying to create higher cheekbones and a slimmer nose for years...who didn't want to look like the Czech-born Supermodel Paulina Porizkova back in the day? 

This sculpting gig is anything but new...

Paulina Porizkova

If I dreamed it, is it so?

If I dreamed it, is it so? by divadebbi featuring shirts & blouses

Glamorous shirts blouse, $28 / Boutique Moschino pink skirt, $505 / J.Crew high heel pumps, $525 / Hermès shoulder bag, $4,085 / Hermès hinged bracelet / Sylva Cie 18k jewelry, $37,675 / Rouge Bunny Rouge liquid eye liner

Flashback Friday: Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner

Trish McEvoy Gel Eyeliner
$28

I was cleaning out one of my makeup drawers the other day, when I stumbled across a nub of what was left of my Trish McEvoy Gel Eyeliner. I remembered liking it well enough and wrote about it in a previous post.

Curious, of course, I tried it again.  What is great about this eyeliner, is that it gives you a really dramatic eye, because it is so heavily pigmented.  Against type, I chose the dark navy, which would really play beautifully off any eye, but is a particularly nice enhancement for those of us who got stuck with brown eyes.

Why had I abandoned it?

Summer Loving

Summer Loving by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Alexander McQueen sleeveless shirt, $390 / Tomas Maier white pants / Verdura gold jewelry / Blue area rug / Home decor, $30 / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Concealer: Through Thick and Thin

   

Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer
$32

We vacationed this year towards the tail end of a very long winter. By the time we left, I thought I looked wan and wiped.  I made a trip to Sephora expressly to find a concealer that would cover and brighten my fatigued looking under eyes.

Laura Mercier has always enjoyed a good rep, particularly for her concealers. Feeling a wee desperate, I tried out her High Coverage Concealer while in the store.  I was amazed how instantly refreshed I looked. I purchased it imagining how deeply rested I would soon appear, just a few days into my vacation.

I was convinced I stumbled onto my next DivaDebbi Holy Grail product...wrong. Me being me, I fortunately had a spare packed.

I don't think it was just the warmer climate--this concealer is so thick, you practically need pliers to get it out of the tube.  Within an hour or two of wear it congealed under my eyes and anything that may have blown by seemed to adhere to it. If this is how High Coverage Concealer works, I think we may be better off without it.

Back to Sephora it went....

I'm not a huge magazine reader anymore, but I will take the time to peruse them while getting mani and pedi's.  My first look see is always the beauty pages.

Fortuitously, Sandy Linter, Lancome's "Beauty at Any Age" spokesperson, was weighing in on her preferred concealer weight.  Sandy, is an icon in the beauty world, having worked as an artist for 4 decades and performing her magic tricks on early Supermodels like Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs.

Sandy's tack is the exact opposite; she recommends going as sheer as you can, while still receiving your desired results.  Hmmm...why not?  The opposite tack certainly proved to be the wrong approach.

CVS is just above Cozy Nails, so with that thought still burning in my brain, I decided to stalk the aisles to see what might fit the bill.

An American Girl

An American Girl by divadebbi featuring a red tote

Givenchy red tote, $2,315 / Wildfox white cat eye glasses, $200 / Pressed Baby's Breath - Real Pressed Flowers

Pretty/Sweet

Pretty/Sweet by divadebbi featuring a flower stem

White jump suit / Alexander Wang leather sole shoes / Sara Battaglia bow purse, $765 / Philosophy fragrance / Pier 1 Imports flower stem

Pur Minerals Volume Vixen Mascara

Pur Minerals Volume Vixen Mascara
$21

I will admit, I am an unabashed Pur Minerals fan.  I wish its distribution was a bit wider, but fortunately, the Ulta where I purchase it, is located near the best freestanding Whole Foods ever constructed. I have taken to buying my DivaDebbi Holy Grail Lip Gloss, Pur's Chateau Kisses Lip Plumping Lip Gloss in Glitzy, in two's. 

I also recently returned to using Pur Minerals Air Perfection Cushion Compact Foundation in Tan. It glides on, providing the perfect summer "faux glow", without anything getting "stuck" the way powder bronzers sometimes do.  As I noted recently, Lancome got all the bells and whistles for their newly launched Miracle Cushion Foundation, but Pur beat them to the "portable" punch by nearly a year.

Pur Minerals Air Perfection Cushion Compact Foundation

But I digress.  All of this brings me to Pur Minerals new Volume Vixen Mascara. When my friends at Tractenberg PR asked me if I wanted to sample it, I naturally responded, hell yeah "yes please."

Bella

Bella by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Mary Katrantzou peplum top, $1,055 / Sacai Luck pleated skirt / Gianvito Rossi leather shoes, $520 / Chanel purse, $1,100 / J Crew long necklace, $265 / AERIN lips makeup / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Vogue's 2015 Beauty Break Throughs; JeNu Skin Infuser

How influenced am I by beauty endorsements from Vogue, Elle, Allure etc...? Pretty much, sucker punched, every time.  After all, they have full staffs of people doing nothing but trying products day and night and lucky for them, and sadly not for me, they are even paid for it.

I came across this nifty little product via my Facebook feed.  It turns out that the hand held JeNu's Skin Infuser one of Vogue's 10 "Game Changers" for 2015.

JeNu's Skin Infuser available online with a (hefty discount) or at Neiman's and Nordstroms (without)

What dozens of women report, is that when using JeNu daily with their favorite skin care products, the boost the "infusion" system provides greatly improves the efficacy of their skincare routine, plumping, tightening and reducing fine lines, wrinkles and folds. It is also extremely well reviewed on independent sites that rate products such as these.

JeNu comes with a 30-Day Risk Free Return Policy.  Most of the women reported great results in less time. I opted to purchase my JeNu system with a discount and in three installments.  I figured that way, if I'm not seeing results within a few weeks, I can return it, without having to lay out a large sum.

GiGi

GiGi by divadebbi featuring a flower stem

Talitha bell sleeve dress, $715 / Gianvito Rossi wrap shoes / Caroline De Marchi multi colored leather handbag / AERIN rose lipstick / AERIN sun care / Pier 1 Imports flower stem

Summer Housewife

Summer Housewife by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Oscar de la Renta top, $660 / AG Adriano Goldschmied jean shorts / Olgana suede shoes / Hermès leather purse / Pier 1 Imports floral decor / DIAMOND, $340

Hey Lady!

Hey Lady! by divadebbi featuring fake flowers

Agnona coat / Giambattista Valli white jeans / Gianvito Rossi black booties, $1,045 / Prada leather purse / Hermès hermes bracelet / Linda Farrow cat-eye glasses / Nearly Natural fake flower / pennyblack-rubber

Quietly Chic

Quietly Chic by divadebbi featuring lips makeup

Lanvin mini dress, $1,180 / Gianvito Rossi ankle boots, $830 / Hermès crossbody bag / Dominic Jones cross necklace, $365 / AERIN lips makeup / Aki Kuroda - Red Flower, 2005 - Fine Art Print - globalgallery.com

Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush

Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush
$26

I have a love/hate relationship with the cookies that troll me on my laptop.  On the one hand, I find them incredibly invasive. Whatever I'm browsing for pops up and trails me all over the Internet, often showing up on this blog in the google ads that I receive pennies for. Good thing my obsessions are fashion and beauty...

On the other hand, it does pop up with some useful information.  I have been meaning to write about Stila's delightful new Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush in Water Lily, anyway.  Now, thanks to a pop up, I can also share that Stila is having an incredible sale, with certain bestsellers (in very human colors), available at 60% off.  Added bonus? Another pop up that offered me an additional 20% if I signed up for their email, because one can always unsubscribe later :)

I don't know why my DivaDebbi Holy Grail One Step Bronze is no longer available at retail. As I hit the halfway mark on my pump bottle recently, I once again, checked the Stila department at Ulta for it. No luck, (thank God it's not discontinued...this would be tragic. Not ideal to have to order online, but better than my scouring the world, to hoard what's left of it.)

Anyway, one of my favorite Beauty Bloggers Isabela Muse of Musings of a Muse had recently been sent Stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush to sample, (hey Stila peeps! Me too, please!) and loved them. Naturally, I was intrigued,

Happy 4th of July!!!

The Fourth of July, America's Birthday, is a beautiful holiday that celebrates our freedom and independence. Fun, food, family and fireworks...what's not to love?

Our debt for that privilege, remains with the brave men and women who have and continue to, fight to protect our liberty. The families who support them also deserve our huge thanks, as well.

We are not a perfect nation, but we are a free one.

Happy 4th to you and yours. God Bless America!

xox,
DD

What In the World is Face Baking?

Face Baking courtesy of Refinery 29/Youtube

Do you have not a clue???  Neither did I, until this morning, when my friend Linda Levy asked me if I have tried it.  I couldn't possibly, since I somehow missed the newest beauty fad to hit the blogosphere.

Is it surprising that this half baked trend has Kardashian roots??? Not really.  Contouring madness has reached a new zenith due to the K. clan, which no doubt also includes Caitlin. Supposedly, Kim's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic has been baking her and recently went public with the technique.

So what's it all about???

Girl's Best Friend

Girl's Best Friend by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Nina Ricci crochet top / J Crew mini skirt / Aquazzura pink shoes / Betsey Johnson tote bag / Korres lip treatment, $13 / Pier 1 Imports floral decor / Pier 1 Imports floral decor